FROM UNDERDOGS TO FINALISTS. The Lady Mustangs, who came into the state tournament as the sixth seed, left Dodge City with hardware after battling Maranatha Christian Academy for the first place finish. This is the first time since 2001 that the Mustangs have played for the State title.
Friday, November 1 the Mustangs began pool play. The first game they faced off against Sedgwick winning in two sets, 25-19 and 25-17. During the first set against Sedgwick, senior Anne Toerber had 11 straight serves to bring the Mustangs back from a 14-19 deficit to a victory over the Cardinals. Moving onto game number two, the Mustangs fought hard against the number three seed, Ellinwood, but could not pull out a win and lost both sets 25-17 and 25-20. The final game was against familiar faces, the Doniphan West Mustangs. After defeating the Mustangs twice prior to the state tournament, our Lady Mustangs went on to beat them for a third straight time winning 25-17 and 25-15. The Mustangs went 2-1 on the day giving them the opportunity to continue on to the semi-finals on Saturday.
Saturday, November 2nd the Mustangs were to play the number one team of the other pool, that being Inman. Inman was also sitting as the number one seed in the 2A State Tournament with a 39-2 record going into the tournament. The Mustangs came together, playing two clean sets to knock off Inman (26-24 and 25-21) and continue onto the championship with junior, Ava Smith receiving the Academy Player of the Game. The Mustangs advanced onto the championship, matching up with Maranatha Christian Academy. Despite a hard fought battle, the Mustangs fell to the Eagles, 25-23 and 25-19.
Our Lady Mustangs go 32-11 on the season being 2A State Runner-Ups. A big congratulations to Ava Smith and Mia Vermetten for making the Kansas Volleyball Association, Class 2A 2024 State All Tournament Team.
Article by Mia Vermetten