BY JIM MISUNAS

jmisunas@gbtribune.com

SALINA — Ellinwood volleyball coach Greg Maxwell watches patiently like an artist who's enjoying a masterpiece.

Maxwell's checklist — Pin-point assists. Athletic defensive digs. Creative passing. Lethal shot-making.

Two-time state champion Ellinwood delivered an emphatic answer whether the Eagles would defend their 2A state volleyball championship.

Five matches later, the Eagles had yielded 124 points, an average score of 25-12.

The Eagles erased any doubt about their title defense with a dominating 25-9, 25-13 sweep over Rossville to capture back-to-back state titles.

Ellinwood (47-0) has swept 94 consecutive matches after beating Rossville (22-22), which sported the worst finalist record in KSHSAA volleyball history.

Sparkplugs Bennett Jacobs, Mette Maxwell, Brynn Widener and Reagan Wirtz set the tone with their defensive skill.

Dual setters Maxwell and Alyvia Batchman deliver passes on a golden platter.

The Eagles attack in waves.

Brynn Widener, Maxwell, Ayla Ritchie, Batchman, sophomore sensation Reagan Stickney and Jaizley Andrasek deliver the thunder.

2A STATE, SALINA

POOL A—Alma Wabaunsee def. Pittsburg Colgan, 25-15, 25-18; Ellinwood def. Rossville, 25-17, 25-14; Rossville def. Pittsburg Colgan, 25-17, 25-14; Ellinwood def. Wabaunsee 25-14, 25-8; Rossville def. Wabaunsee, 25-14, 25-16; Ellinwood def. Pittsburg Colgan, 25-13, 25-12

POOL B—Inman def. Chase County, 25-20, 19-25, 25-17; Moundridge def. Hays-TMP, 25-14, 25-16; Hays-TMP def. Inman, 25-18, 25-15; Moundridge def. Chase County, 25-17, 25-14; Hays-TMP def. Chase County, 25-14, 25-27, 25-9; Moundridge def. Inman, 25-20, 25-21

SEMIFINALS—Ellinwood def. Hays-TMP, 25-13, 25-11; Rossville def. Moundridge, 20-25, 25-20, 25-23; 1ST—Ellinwood def. Rossville, 25-9, 25-13; 3RD—Hays TMP def. Moundridge, 25-20, 20-25, 25-22