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Area volleyball standouts play at national tourney
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Fight Club volleyball features front row 4 Andale's Hayden Grimes, 14 Dodge City's Piper Mellinger, 17 Great Bend's Kya Behr; back row Dodge City coach Erin Mellinger, 8 Hoisington's Sofia Simic, 7 Ellinwood's Kyndal Moore, 34 WIchita's Mason Palace, 5 Inman's Suttyn Harris, 15 Little River's Havana Olander, Pittsburg State coach Megan Besecker.

BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

DALLAS, Texas — Kansas Fight Club (8-2) finished ninth in the Elite USA Division of the USA Volleyball Association Junior Nationals. More than 90 courts were in play during the tournament.

Great Bend's Kya Behr, Hoisington's Sophia Simic, Ellinwood's Kyndal Moore and Inman's Suttyn Harris competed for Fight Club. Harris was sidelined when she sustained an anterior cruciate ligament knee injury in the first match.

The girls kept Harris in their hearts and minds and played inspired volleyball for an 8-2 record and a ninth-place finish in the USA Division at Dallas, Texas.

"Kya is our only setter," said Pittsburg State volleyball coach Megan Besecker. "Kya is the backbone of our team. She's an amazing all-around player who gets to the ball, and sets her teammates up in good spots. Kya is one of top volleyball recruits in Kansas." 

Simic is verbally committed to the University of Illinois. Moore plans to compete at Emporia State. 

"Sophia is a really physical player with good height and vertical jump," Besecker said. "Illinois is one of the top volleyball programs in the country. Kyndal Moore is our most improved club player. She's a good middle hitter who has good balance in her game. She's really improved this summer."

Besecker said evaluating summer volleyball players is a busy time for college coaches.    

"The players want to get better competing in club volleyball, but it's their time to be seen by a lot of college coaches," Besecker said. 

Fight Club volleyball also features Andale's Hayden Grimes, Dodge City's Piper Mellinger, Wichita's Mason Palace, and Little River's Havana Olander. Coaches are former Barton Cougar coach Besecker and Dodge City High School coach Erin Mellinger.

USA DIVISION 17-AND-UNDER

Fight Club def  Madtown, Wis. 25-15, 25-21; Fight Club def. A5 Angel, Ga. 25-20, 25-18; Dallas, Texas Skyline def. Fight Club, 25-20, 25-12; Fight Club def. Union Volleyball, Ind. 25-22, 25-16; Fight Club def. Ikaika, Texas 25-15, 25-13; Fight Club def. Madtown, Wis. 25-23, 29-31, 15-9; Fight Club def. Black Adidas, N.M. 25-18, 15-17;  Fight Club def. Tsunami, Calif. 12-25, 25-21, 15-8; Fight Club def. Dynasty, Mo. 25-23, 25-23; Texas Tornadoes def. Fight Club, 25-23, 25-21