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St. John Tigers finish at state tourney
st john vball
St. John volleyball coach Taci Axman joins Tigers Kalla Foote (10), Bree Mawhirter (20), Kendall Bonner (1), Jalyn Fisher (3),Allison Lopez (7), Lillian Brummer (2), Gentri Bright (9), Carlee Riegel (17), Hadley Bright (11), Lainey Peterson (12), Makenzie Kraushaar (23) and  Makinley Sanders.

SALINA — The St. John Tigers 18th trip to the state volleyball tournament finished with a trio of setbacks.

St. John (30-15) lost to state runner-up Centralia 25-19, 25-11; third place Little River 25-19, 25-21 and Goessel 25-15, 25-19 at the 1A Division 1 state tournament.

"State may not have gone according to our plan," St. John coach Taci Axman posted on Facebook. "Today didn't end the way we'd hoped or dreamed.

"We're leaving with memories, experience and a stronger bond. We have a belief that we belong on this stage and that we have so much more to give."

The Tigers graduate seniors Lillian Brummer, Allison Lopez and Gentri Bright.

"Thank you seniors for four years of hard work, leadership," Axman wrote. "We will miss you on our court."

The Tigers overcame a variety of obstacles to navigate through shifting lineups.

"This season was about resilience," Axman wrote. "It was finding strength when things got hard. It was about picking each other up, and refusing to let adversity define us.

"Through every twist and turn, these girls continued to show up, battle, support one another, and find a way forward. You turned obstacles into memories, that gives us something to dream about."

With multiple starters returning, Axman carries confidence into next season.

"The journey to state is one chapter. This group has plenty more stories left to write," she wrote. "The road to success is rarely smooth. Sometimes the best stories are written through the toughest chapters.

Axman appreciated the consistent support from parents, fans and students.

1A DIV. 1 STATE, SALINA

POOL A—Little River def. Goessel 25-18, 19-25, 25-20; Centralia def. St. John, 25-19, 25-11; Goessel def. St. John, 25-15, 25-19; Centralia def. Little River, 25-23, 25-15; Little River def. St. John, 25-19, 25-21; Centralia def. Goessel, 25-21, 25-12

POOL B —Randolph Blue Valley def. South Gray, 25-23, 25-23; Linn def. vs Beloit St. John's, 25-8, 25-12; Linn def. Blue Valley, 25-16, 25-16; Beloit St. John's def. South Gray, 25-17, 23-25, 25-21; Blue Valley def. Beloit St. John's, 23-25, 25-21, 25-20; Linn def. South Gray, 25-15, 25-15

SEMIFINALS—Centralia def. Blue Valley, 25-8, 25-19; Linn def. Little River, 14-25, 26-24, 25-21; 1ST—Linn def. Centralia, 25-10, 20-25, 25-23; 3RD—Little River def. Blue Valley, 25-18, 23-25, 25-22