BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
HUTCHINSON — Facing their biggest challenge in the first match Friday will prepare the underdog Hoisington Cardinals against No. 1 ranked Silver Lake Saturday.
In Saturday's semifinals, Silver Lake (44-1) plays Hoisington (38-5) and Holton (37-9) meets Wichita Trinity (30-6) at 9 a.m.
The task was similar when the Cardinals faced a red-hot Holton team, losing 20-25, 25-17, 25-20 in their 3A state opener.
The Cardinals bounced back to sweep past Osage City, 25-19, 25-16 and battled past pesky Riverton 25-23, 26-24 for a 2-1 pool record. All-stater Sofia Simic delivered the match point after Kinley Wilkens and Kelsi Maier contributed late-match winners.
Holton's frontline of Tinley Wilson, Rebekah Lassey, Emily Ditzler and Khloe Black provided a similar challenge the Cardinals will face against Silver Lake's hard hitters.
The Cardinals' defense was pressured by Holton's hard-hitting. Sofia Simic provided numerous point-ending winners. Others contributing were Addison Hanzlick, Mila Simic, Reese Vaughn, Libero Miya Machtigal and Brynlee Schremmer. The Wildcats built early leads in the final two sets and never lost momentum.
HUTCHINSON, THURSDAY
3A POOL A—Wichita Trinity def. Ellsworth, 20-25, 25-17, 25-22; Silver Lake def. Hesston, 25-20, 25-13; Wichita Trinity def. Hesston, 25-22, 25-17; Silver Lake def. Ellsworth, 25-23, 31-29; Hesston def. Ellsworth, 25-21, 25-22; Silver Lake vs. Wichita Trinity, 27-25, 27-25
3A POOL B—Holton def. Hoisington, 20-25, 25-17, 25-20; Riverton def. Osage City, 25-13, 25-22; Hoisington def. Osage City, 25-19, 25-16; Holton def. Riverton, 25-16, 25-7; Holton def. Osage City, 35-33, 25-19; Hoisington def. Riverton, 25-23, 26-24
SATURDAY'S SEMIFINALS—Silver Lake 44-1 vs. Hoisington 38-5, 9 a.m.; Holton 37-9 vs. Wichita Trinity 30-6, 9 a.m.
THURSDAY, DODGE CITY
1A-DIV. 1 POOL A—Centralia def. Frankfort, 25-20, 25-18; Little River def. Frankfort, 25-15, 25-17; Centralia def. Frankfort, 25-18, 25-17; Little River def. Goessel, 25-15, 25-13; Goessel def. Frankfort, 25-18, 25-18; Little River def. Centralia, 25-14, 25-8
1A-DIV. 1 POOL B—Greeley County def. Spearville, 25-27, 28-26, 27-25; South Gray def. Quinter, 23-25, 25-21, 25-21; Quinter def. Spearville, 25-18, 17-25, 25-19; South Gray def. Greeley County, 25-20, 28-26; Greeley County, 25-23, 25-18; South Gray def. Spearville, 25-10, 25-10
SATURDAY'S SEMIFINALS—Little River 41-2 vs. Quinter 29-11, 9 a.m.; South Gray 38-4 vs. Centralia 35-9, 9 a.m.
FRIDAY, EMPORIA
1A-DIV. 2 POOL A—Marais Des Cygnes 38-2; Victoria 33-6; Hanover 31-7; Axtell 26-13; Hanover vs. Victoria; Marais Des Cygnes vs. Axtell; Axtell vs. Victoria; Marais Des Cygnes vs. Hanover; Hanover vs. Axtell; Marais Des Cygnes vs. Victoria
1A-DIV. 2 POOL A—Ingalls 34-5, Linn 31-5; Dighton 27-12, Bucklin 24-11; Linn vs. Dighton; Ingalls vs. Bucklin; Linn vs. Bucklin; Ingalls vs. Dighton; Dighton vs. Bucklin; Ingalls vs. Linn
FRIDAY, DODGE CITY
2A POOL A—Ellinwood 42-0, Humboldt 34-9, Hillsboro 32-9, Rossville 28-13; Hillsboro vs. Humboldt, 10 a.m.; Ellinwood vs. Russell; Humboldt vs. Rossville; Ellinwood vs. Hillsboro; Hillsboro vs. Rossville; Ellinwood vs. Humboldt
2A POOL B—Jefferson North 40-4, Oakley 36-4, Valley Heights 29-9 Conway Springs 26-12; Oakley vs. Valley Heights, 10 .m.; Jefferson North vs. Conway Springs; Oakley vs. Conway Springs; Jefferson North vs Valley Heights; Valley Heights vs. Conway Springs; Oakley vs. Jefferson North
FRIDAY, HUTCHINSON
HUTCHINSON 4A POOL A—Andale 31-1, Rock Creek 32-6, Paola 26-8, SM Miege 9-26; Rock Creek vs. Paola, 10; Andale vs. SM Miege; SM Miege vs. Rock Creek; Andale vs. Paola; SM Miege vs. Paola; Andale vs. Rock Creek
HUTCHINSON 4A POOL B—Clay Center 38-2; McPherson 34-5, Topeka Hayden 29-9, Buhler 15-22; McPherson vs. Hayden, 10; Clay Center vs. Buhler; McPherson vs. Buhler; Clay Center vs. Hayden; Hayden vs. Buhler; Clay Center vs. McPherson
FRIDAY, SALINA
6A POOL A—Mill Valley 31-4, Washburn Rural 30-7; Olathe West 26-7, Lawrence Free State 20-12; Washburn vs. Olathe West, 10; Mill Valley vs. Free State; Washburn vs. Free State; Mill Valley vs. Olathe West; Free State vs. Olathe West; Mill Valley vs. Washburn
6A POOL A—Blue Valley West 30-4, Wichita Northwest 30-6, Manhattan 27-8, Olathe Northwest 28-9; Wichita NW vs. Manhattan, 10; BV West vs. Olathe NW; Wichita NW vs. Olathe NW; BV West vs. Manhattan; Manhattan vs. Olathe NW; BV West vs. Wichita NW
