There is no more high school volleyball this fall for Alabama, Hawaii and Kansas as they conducted their state finals last week or over the weekend. Three highly-ranked schools in No. 9 Washburn Rural KS, No. 13 Aquinas KS and No. 18 ‘Iolani HI all finished on top of their respective divisions while another school extended its record streak. Below, we present a rundown of each state.
ALABAMA
Senior outside Anna Grace Sparks and sophomore outside Paris McQuirter combined for 28 kills as McGill-Toolen took down Bob Jones in four sets, 25-18, 25-13, 20-25, 25-18, in the AHSAA Class 7A state final last Thursday. Junior setters Laura Boykin and Mamie Fromdahl teamed up for 39 assists as the Yellowjackets (51-8) earned the program’s first championship since back-to-back titles in 2017-18. It was McGill-Toolen’s 22nd overall. Sophomore outside Kennedy Vaughn put up a team-high 13 kills for Bob Jones.
In the Class 6A state championship match, Bayside Academy pulled through in a five-set thriller over Spanish Fort, 20-25, 25-22, 22-25, 25-11, 15-12. Bayside Academy has now won 21 consecutive state championships, a national record the Admirals could quite likely extend once again next season. It was the 31st overall for the program. The top four kill leaders from the state final all return next season in freshman Haley Robinson, sophomore Misty Smith, junior Maysie Douglas and junior Georgia McInnis. Also back are junior setter Blakeley Robbins and freshman libero Mary Katherine Whitehurst.
Class 5A: Westminster Christian d Arab 25-23, 26-24, 25-13
Class 4A: Montgomery Catholic d Trinity Presbyterian 10-25, 25-15, 25-23, 25-16
Class 3A: Prattville Christian d Plainview 25-13, 16-25, 25-22, 25-22
Class 2A: Donoho d Pleasant Valley 25-18, 25-22, 24-26, 25-16
Class 1A: Addison d Covenant Christian 25-9, 25-19, 25-18
***
KANSAS
Washburn Rural – ranked No. 9 nationally – finished its season on a 44-match winning streak, culminating with a victory over Blue Valley, 25-21, 26-24, in the Kansas Class 6A state championship match Saturday. The Blues (45-1) began the season with a victory over Aquinas – which claimed the Class 5A state championship Saturday – then lost their next outing to St. James Academy – Saturday’s 5A runner up. That was it, the only loss of the season for the Blues, who picked up the program’s first state title since 2012 and eighth overall.
As a freshman, now senior standout and Kentucky commit Brooklyn DeLeye and teammates fell to Blue Valley in the championship match. Last year, DeLeye and company entered the Day 2 semifinals undefeated but dropped both matches and wound up in fourth. This season there was no pressure of an undefeated season in the balance though Washburn Rural came close to having a perfect season. Besides the setback to St. James, Washburn Rural lost just two sets in its 45 victories. DeLeye and senior middle Chloe Carlgren are among the big graduations, but the Blues do return junior middle Jada Ingram and junior setter Zoe Canfield to run it back next season.
Blue Valley (31-11) will take on a much different look next fall. The Tigers graduate eight key senior contributors. Junior 4-star libero Ryan McAleer is back to build around though.
As for national No. 13 Aquinas, it was also the eighth overall state championship for the Saints (40-3). The latest came after a hard-fought victory over St. James, 25-22, 22-25, 25-23, in the final. Aquinas was 2-0 against St. James (37-4) in the regular season, both sweeps. Two of the three losses for the Saints came against 6A state champ Washburn Rural. The third was against Liberty North MO, which is still alive in the Missouri state playoffs. Aquinas also owns a victory over Liberty North, as well as Lafayette MO, which faces Liberty North in Thursday’s Class 5 state semifinals.
Looking ahead to next season, it’s a mixed bag for Aquinas. The Saints lose this season’s kill leader in Betsy Goodenow, as well as senior middle Ashlyn Reeves. However, they do bring back sophomore outside Alea Goolsby and both setters in junior Kelsey Schenck and freshman Alayna Vaeth.
St. James – ranked No. 27 nationally – began its schedule 13-0 before falling to Aquinas for the first of what would be three times. The only other loss for the Thunder came to Lafayette in tournament play in early October. And the Thunder, who are set up nicely for next season, do get the distinction of being the only team to defeat 6A state champ Washburn Rural.
Sophomore standout setter Reese Messer returns next fall, along with junior libero Mya Bolton. Joining them is three of the top four kill leaders in juniors Julia Headley, Ava Spachek and Ella Goodwin.
Class 4A: Bishop Miege d Andale 25-22, 32-20
Class 3A: Olathe-Heritage Christian d Seneca-Nemaha Central 25-16, 25-13
Class 2A: Hillsboro d Smith Center 25-12, 25-13
Class 1A: Little River d Rosalia-Flinthills 25-11, 18-25, 25-9
***
HAWAII
‘Iolani – ranked No. 18 nationally – earned its fourth HHSAA Division 1 state championship by sweeping Kamehameha/Hawaii, 25-18, 25-17, 25-22, in Saturday’s final. The Raiders also claimed titles in 2011, 2016 and 2018. The Warriors were aiming to mark just the third time a non-Ohau school claimed the state title, and first time since 1974, but the Raiders rolled behind 16 kills from senior outside Brooke Naniseni. Senior outside Senna Roberts-Navarro ended with 10 kills and 13 digs, while senior setter Maya Imoto-Eakin racked up 40 assists and 14 digs. Senior libero Tess Onaga, who had 34 digs, was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
‘Iolani (25-5) opened its season with a loss to Palos Verdes CA at the Ann Kang Invitational before falling in the semifinals to eventual champ Mira Costa CA. The only local team to beat ‘Iolani all season was Punahou, which lost to Kamehameha in the quarterfinals. ‘Iolani also traveled to the Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas, finishing fourth after losing to top-ranked Cathedral Catholic CA in the semifinals and Fayetteville AR in the third-place match. Among ‘Iolani’s victories includes beating No. 12 Sierra Canyon CA at Durango.
In Division 2 final, Reese Diersbock recorded 31 kills as Le Jardin outlasted Hawaii Baptist in five, 25-17, 25-16, 25-27, 18-25, 15-8.
