ST. JOHN — The St. John-Hudson High School volleyball team swept a home triangular on Tuesday night, beating Wichita-Word of Life, 25-7 and 25-10, and Macksville, 25-9 and 25-12.
“We have got to step up and play no matter who we’re playing,” St. John head coach Trish Wade said. “I thought they did a very good job keeping up the intensity out there. I thought the girls did a good job covering and passing. We didn’t start very well there at the beginning, but we got rolling.”
The Lady Mustangs beat the Fire 25-12 and 25-6 to improve to 1-8 this season.
“We started off the season with some losses in close matches,” Lady Mustangs head coach Jennifer Gillespie said. “We’re still searching for some consistency. Once we start our league, I think we’ll be competitive.”
The Lady Tigers (8-3) opened the triangular against Word of Life, which struggled from the outset.
The Fire served first in Game 1, but St. John snagged an early 1-0 lead. Ashlyn Fisher served for the Lady Tigers’ first six points.
Fisher had a pair of aces and one kill in the first game. She ended the match with five aces.
Alexis Witt and Haley Falk each had a team-leading four kills in the match.
St. John, which has competed in the Class 1A state tournament each of the last five years, winning three state titles, took a quick lead against Central Prairie League opponent Macksville.
The Lady Tigers put away Game 1 on a Teresa Christie kill, one of two for her in the game. She also had a pair of aces.
Falk recorded a kill and an ace in the opening game.
“We’ve been trying some new things,” Wade said. “We are really small this year, so we’re learning some things to make up for that, and the girls are doing a great job with it.
“I am really happy with our seniors. They like to win, and they know what it takes to win, so they’re pushing us hard this season.”
Macksville started slow against Word of Life.
Game 1 stayed close until Brianna Evans took over serving with a 16-12 lead.
Evans finished with four aces in the first game, serving for nine straight points for the win.
“We got a good serving performance from Bri Evans,” Gillespie said. “I thought everyone served well against Word of Life.”
With five aces for the Lady Mustangs, Game 2 never left Macksville’s control.
Erin Hornbaker finished the match with three aces.
Sophie Filbert recorded two aces and a kill.
Macksville is back in action on Saturday at the Pawnee Heights Invitational, starting at 9 a.m.
St. John travels to Victoria on Tuesday. The junior varsity starts at 4 p.m., with the varsity following at 6:15.
HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL
Tuesday
At St. John
St. John-Hudson 2,
Wichita-Word of Life 0
(25-7, 25-10)
Macksville 2, Wichita-Word of Life 0
(25-12, 25-6)
St. John 2, Macksville 0
(25-9, 25-12)
