Newton's battle ends in final volleyball loss
TOPEKA — Newton's volleyball team has this never-quit attitude that coach Jamie Dibbens absolutely loves.
That mentality paid off on Saturday as Newton defeated Valley Center to reach the Class 5A title match despite losing the second game of the three-game match by 15 points.
In the 5A championship against Bishop Miege at the Kansas Expocentre, Newton maintained that competitive attitude, but Miege proved too tough in its 25-16, 25-20 victory for its fourth straight title.
"I felt like we battled every play," Dibbens said of her team, which finished 41-5. "They were scrapping for everything they could and getting a hand on something or popping it up. Even one time, they had a play off their foot. I thought we were giving it every bit of effort we could."
Miege, which has won 21 titles, also won four straight from 1991-1994, seven straight from 1977-1983 and three straight from 2002-2004.
Saturday's final was a different match from pool play on Friday, when Miege won 25-9, 25-12.
"Yesterday we played intimidated," Newton senior hitter Katie Loescher said. "We told ourselves we weren't going to, but it happened on the court. The experience of playing them once, we knew we could play with them.... We put everything together and we played our best, played every point."
That emotion was important, and it's what the Railers had shown in their 26-24, 10-25, 25-20 semifinal win over Valley Center. Dibbens, who played for Valley center coach Bryan Otte when he was at Moundridge, had never beaten her former coach.
After that poor second game, Newton scored the first five points of the third game.
"We started out that match with Newton with making some silly type, uncharacteristic errors," said Otte, whose team defeated Topeka Seaman 25-19, 25-19 to finish third.
Valley Center's Meagan Williams had a match-high 10 kills, while teammates Ashlyn Driskill and Taylor Johnson each had nine.
Newton ended the match with a kill by Loescher, and stuff blocks by Abbie Lehman and Loescher.
Newton played with Miege early in the opening game, trailing 9-8, but Miege controlled the rest of the game. Seven Miege players had kills in that game, including five with two or more. Miege's Shelby Workman finished with a match-high eight kills, while Kali Eaken had six.
"We played exceptionally well; we didn't make many mistakes," Miege coach Gwenn Pike said. "We capitalized on our good passing, good serving and made great kills."
The tears came suddenly to Hiebert's eyes after the medals and trophies were handed out and the pictures taken.
Asked what emotion she felt, she shook her head.
"I feel like we won," she said. "I feel like we're the best in public schools.
"It's amazing. This is the best feeling ever."
Class 6A
At Topeka
Semifinals—Washburn Rural def. Olathe East, 25-10, 25-16; Blue Valley North def. Gardner-Edgerton, 25-19, 21-25, 26-24. Third place— Gardner-Edgerton def. Olathe East 25-21, 25-19 Championship— Washburn Rural def. Blue Valley North, 25-20, 22-25, 25-18
Class 5A
At Topeka
Semifinals—Newton def. Valley Center, 26-24, 10-25, 25-22; Bishop Miege def. Topeka Seaman, 25-14, 25-7. Third place— Valley Center def. Topeka Seaman, 25-19, 25-19. Championship— Bishop Miege def. Newton, 25-16, 25-20
Class 2A
At Emporia
Semfinals—Washington County def. Smith Center, 25-22, 25-17; Olpe def. Pratt Skyline, 25-10, 25-23. Third place— Smith Center def. Pratt Skyline, 26-24, 25-14. Championship— Olpe def. Washington County, 25-19, 22-25, 27-25
Class 1A
Division I
At Hays
Semifinals—St. John def. Spearville, 25-16, 25-6; Centralia def. Waverly, 25-23, 26-24. Third place— Waverly def. Spearville, 15-25, 25-20, 25-16. Championship— St. John def. Centralia, 25-21, 23-25, 25-12
Division II
Semifinals—Norwich def. Central Christian, 16-25, 25-17, 25-22; Baileyville def. Logan, 25-13, 25-18. Championship— Baileyville def. Norwich 16-25, 25-18, 25-19. Third place— Central Christian def. Logan, 25-16, 21-25, 25-8