CLAFLIN – You might call the Central Plains High School volleyball squad out of Claflin a juggernaut.
After all, the Oilers cruised to a 37-1 record and garnered a number-one ranking in the Class 2A Kansas Coaches Rankings released earlier this month, ahead of number two Spearville and number three Washington County.
But, head coach Kim Rolfs said, that was then. Now her girls start their run at a 2A state title this morning at White Auditorium in Emporia and the competition will be fierce.
“They are all threats at this point,” Rolfs said of the other teams at the tourney. “Because we are listed as the number one seed and have been ranked number one most of the season, the target just keeps getting bigger.”
It’s anyone’s championship, she said. “The oilers do have a legitimate shot at winning it all if they play at the level I saw last weekend.”
The coach was referring to the Oilers win at sub-state contest last Saturday at Ell-Saline High School in Brookville. Earlier, the team was crowned champion of the Central Prairie League.
 “I feel as though we are a little nervous” going into state, Rolfs said. “But I also felt that nervousness before substate. The girls really played well last weekend under that pressure.”
Rolfs is also taking a more veteran, seasoned team to state. “The team is more experienced all around with only on girl who hadn’t play some varsity. They are also a more confident team and with that comes success.”
In addition, playing during the summer months has contributed to their chemistry. “Barton league, camps and open gym were utilized by most of our team so that is a huge advantage we have over teams that do very little or nothing in the summer months,” she said.
But, the long, grueling season did take a toll.
“Like every team there is a mid season lull and we had it,” she said. “We were fortunate enough to play through it.”
Rolfs is assisted by assistant coaches Brittany Kratzer and Lisa Crites, and the manager is Kylie Holmes.
The players, their height and their grade levels include:
Alyssa Kreft, 5’9, 10
Kaycee Steiner, 5’4, 11
Kylie Lamatsch, 5’4, 9
Cassidy Crites, 5’10, 10
Taylor Oeser, 5’3, 9
Darian Hubbard, 5’0, 9
Abby Stueder, 5’5, 12
Kendi Maxwell, 5’5, 11
Julie Demel, 5’6, 12
Reagan Phelan, 5’6, 11
Chelsey Bieberle, 5’4, 10
Kassidy Pflughoeft, 5’10, 9  
Taylor Rolfs, 5’11, 11
Alexis Blackwood, 5’3, 9
Kylee Kasselman, 5’8, 10
Julie Donecker, 5’11, 9
Holli Payne, 5’8, 10
Emily Hitschmann, 5’4, 9


What is ahead for the Central Plains High School Oilers volleyball team at the 2A state tournament starting today?
The Oilers will play No. 8 seed Chase County (26-12) in Pool 1 at 8:30 a.m. today at White Auditorium in Emporia. Central Plains will play Alma-Wabaunsee (33-6) at 10:30 a.m. Central Plains will play last year’s fourth-place finisher Smith Center (33-6) at 1:30 p.m.
The top two qualifiers from the Central Plains pool will advance to Saturday’s semifinals at 10 a.m.
The other teams competing in Pool 2 are Spearville (37-2), Washington County 34-4) and returning state qualifiers Meade (32-6) and Pittsburg Colgan (32-7).