jmisunas@gbtribune.com

DODGE CITY — In Claflin, they believe in "Oiler Magic."

The Central Plains Oilers fought off three match points and shocked No. 1 ranked Rural Vista 22-25, 25-22, 26-24 to capture the 1A state volleyball championship. Rural Vista led 24-21, and the Oilers had to earn three consecutive points for a 24-24 tie. Lexi Oeser hit a match-winning spike to finish off five consecutive points to earn the Oilers' second state volleyball title.

"It was a magical moment. There are no no 'perfect' teams, but there are perfect moments," said Central Plains coach Lisa Crites. "We were determined we were not going to let the ball hit the floor. There was great communication there. Kudos to our back row because they picked up everything."

Hitting leader Addison Crites played the set of her life with 19 kills in the decisive third set. Time-after-time, setters Kassidy Nixon and Riley Thompson served up perfect sets for Crites.

"Addison was unbelievable," coach Crites said. "These girls have a super-competitive spirit. They know how to dig down and go out and get a win. It took everybody today. It was a team effort where everybody played for each other." 

Rural Vista (42-5) rallied to win the first set after trailing. The Oilers (34-11) rallied for a second set comeback victory.

"The third set was a battle for every point -- a championship set," Crites said.

In the semifinals, the Oilers defeated Minneola, 25-17, 25-12; and Rural Vista defeated Cunningham, 25-17, 25-21.

FRIDAY — The Central Plains Oilers stayed perfect in postseason play and swept three matches to advance to Saturday's 1A state volleyball semifinals. The Oilers swept Chetopa 25-11, 25-13; Cunningham 25-17, 25-23; and Clifton Clyde 25-21, 25-12 to sweep six consecutive sets. No. 1 ranked Hope Rural Vista swept Minneola, Victoria and Olpe to finish 6-0 in sets. 

"We played very well today. To get it down in six sets, it better than we imagined," said Crites. "We played back-to-back matches, but we dug down and defeated Cunningham in our second match."

Crites said every phase of the Oilers' game clicked at certain times, creating an all-around solid performance.

"I liked our chances if we played our game," she said. "We executed every part of our game very well at some point. We did not let balls hit the floor. Our setters (Kassidy Nixon, Riley Thompson) did a great job getting the ball to our hitters. All of our hitters came through during the day." 

The Oilers placed first (2015, 2A), second (2016 2A), third (2014, 2A) in prior state volleyball tournaments.

STATE VOLLEYBALL

1A DODGE CITY

CHAMPIONSHIP—Central Plains def. Rural Vista, 22-25, 25-22, 26-24; THIRD—Cunningham def. Minneola, 25-23, 13-25, 25-12

SEMIFINALS—Central Plains def. Minneola, 25-17, 25-12; Rural Vista def. Cunningham, 25-17, 25-21

POOL 1—Rural Vista def. Victoria, 25-20, 25-17; Rural Vista def. Olpe, 25-18, 27-25; Rural Vista def. Minneola, 25-17, 25-9; Minneola def. Olpe, 25-23, 25-23; Minneola def. Victoria, 22-25, 25-23, 25-22;  Olpe def. Victoria; 

POOL 2—Central Plains def. Chetopa, 25-11, 25-13; Central Plains def. Cunningham, 25-17, 25-23; Central Plains def. Clifton Clyde, 25-21, 25-12; Cunningham def. Clifton Clyde, 25-23, 29-27; Cunningham def. Chetopa, 25-19, 25-16; Clifton Clyde def. Chetopa, 25-19, 25-11;  

2A DODGE CITY

CHAMPIONSHIP—Alma Wabaunsee def. Spearville, 25-23, 25-19; THIRD—Garden Plain def. Valley Heights, 25-17, 25-11

SEMIFINALS—Wabaunsee def. Valley Heights, 25-14, 25-22; Spearville def. Garden Plain, 25-21, 22-25, 25-23

POOL 1—Valley Heights def. Smith Center, 25-13, 25-22; Garden Plain def. Pittsburg Colgan 25-20, 15-25, 25-19; Garden Plain def. Valley Heights, 25-22, 21-25, 25-20; Pittsburg  Colgan def. Smith Center, 24-26, 25-19, 25-22; Garden Plain def. Smith Center, 25-19, 25-13; Valley Heights def. Pittsburg  Colgan, 17-25, 25-21, 25-23  

POOL 2—Wabaunsee def. Belle Plaine, 25-20, 25-18; Wabaunsee def. Jefferson North, 26-24, 25-19; Spearville def. Jefferson North, 25-22, 25-23;  Spearville def. Belle Plaine, 25-20, 23-25, 25-20; Belle Plaine def. Jefferson North, 25-20, 25-20; Wabaunsee def. Spearville, 29-27, 25-23

3A HUTCHINSON

CHAMPIONSHIP—Royal Valley def. Beloit, 25-19, 25-18; THIRD—Silver Lake def. Cheney, 25-22, 25-21.

SEMIFINALS—Beloit def. Silver Lake, 25-20, 19-25, 25-21; Royal Valley def. Cheney, 25-17, 25-17

POOL 1—Beloit def. Burlington, 25-14, 25-15; Beloit def. Phillipsburg, 25-12, 25-23; Beloit def. Cheney, 25-18, 25-23; Cheney def. Phillipsburg, 21-25, 25-11, 27-25; Cheney def. Burlington, 25-14, 25-13; Phillipsburg def. Burlington, 25-15, 25-21  

POOL 2—Royal Valley def. Silver Lake, 25-23, 25-21; Royal Valley def. Nemaha Central, 23-25, 25-17, 25-18; Royal Valley def. Frontenac, 25-16, 25-10; Silver Lake def. Nemaha Central. 25-23, 25-20; Silver Lake def. Frontenac, 18-25, 25-22, 25-5; Nemaha Central def. Frontenac, 31-29, 25-20 

4A HUTCHINSON

CHAMPIONSHIP—Topeka Hayden def. Andale, 25-19, 27-25; THIRD—Circle def. Louisburg, 18-25, 25-21, 26-24

SEMIFINALS—Andale def. Circle, 25-10, 28-26; Topeka Hayden def. Louisburg, 25-14, 25-18

POOL 1—Nickerson def. Holton, 25-22, 21-25, 25-23;  Andale def. Louisburg, 25-10, 25-19; Louisburg def. Holton, 26-24, 23-25, 25-20; Andale def. Nickerson, 25-19, 26-28, 25-16; Louisburg def. Nickerson, 19-25, 25-10, 25-20; Andale def. Holton, 25-11, 25-13 

POOL 2—Circle def. Eudora, 25-19, 25-22; Topeka Hayden def. Independence, 25-16, 25-13; Topeka Hayden def. Circle, 25-12, 25-19; Eudora def. Independence, 25-20, 25-17; Topeka Hayden def. Eudora, 25-18, 17-25, 25-12; Circle def. Independence, 18-25, 25-22, 25-16

5A SALINA

CHAMPIONSHIP—St. Thomas Aquinas def. Lenexa St. James, 20-25, 25-19, 25-16; THIRD—Lansing def. Goddard, 25-16, 25-12

SEMIFINALS—Lenexa St. James def. Goddard, 25-7, 25-17;  St. Thomas Aquinas def. Lansing, 25-17, 25-13

POOL 1—Lansing def. Andover High, 25-22, 25-15; Goddard def. Maize South, 25-21, 25-14; Lansing def. Goddard, 25-12, 25-22; Maize South def. Andover, 25-19, 23-25, 25-2; Goddard def. Andover, 25-17, 22-25, 25-22; Lansing def. Maize South, 25-15, 25-17

POOL 2—St. James def. Wichita Carroll, 25-18, 25-14; St. James def. St. Thomas Aquinas, 25-19, 25-12;  St. James def. Spring Hill, 25-16, 25-13;  St. Thomas Aquinas def. Spring Hill, 25-19, 25-16; St. Thomas Aquinas def. Wichita Carroll, 25-16, 25-12; Spring Hill def. Wichita Carroll, 25-20, 25-21   

6A SALINA

CHAMPIONSHIP—Blue Valley def. Washburn Rural, 26-24, 25-21; THIRD—Gardner Edgerton def. Blue Valley North, 25-12, 25-19

SEMIFINALS—Blue Valley def. Gardner-Edgerton, 25-21, 25-18; Washburn Rural def. Blue Valley North, 25-12, 25-19

POOL 1—Blue Valley def. Blue Valley North, 25-17, 25-18; Garden City def. Lawrence Free State, 25-13, 25-19; Blue Valley def. Free State, 25-14, 25-16; Blue Valley North def. Garden City, 25-15, 25-21; Blue Valley North def. Free State, 25-19, 25-17; Blue Valley def. Garden City, 25-17, 31-29

POOL 2—Derby def. SM Northwest, 29-27, 25-23; Washburn Rural def. Gardner Edgerton, 27-25, 25-19; Gardner Edgerton def. Derby, 25-19, 23-25, 25-19; Washburn Rural def. SM Northwest, 25-15, 25-17; SM Northwest def. Gardner Edgerton, 25-22, 22-25, 25-18; Washburn Rural def. Derby, 25-21, 25-16