LADY REDSKINS WIN STATE AGAIN!!!

Finish Season 42-2!!

By Staff

(Photos by Erin Wohletz)

DODGE CITY – For the second season in a row, the Little River volleyball team concluded their fall season by winning the Class 1A Division I state championship.

With the wins, the Lady Redskins concluded their 2023 season with a sparkling 42-2 record giving them a record of 81 wins to just six losses in two seasons.

Little River opened the state tournament as the second seed which means they played Olpe, Clifton/Clyde and Spearville in pool play.

Against seventh seed Olpe the Lady Redskins opened with a straight set (25-12/25-10) win as Kate Ellwood dished out 17 assists and Alaina Eck made 11 digs.

Up next was sixth seeded Clifton/Clyde which Little River again took care of in straight sets (25-17/25-8) as Eck made eight more digs and Ellwood dished out another 12 assists while Aubrey Olander recorded eight kills.

Third seed Spearville gave the Lady Redskins a battle, forcing them to go three sets for the win (25-11/24-26/25-19) in order to close out pool play unbeaten at 3-0. Leading Little River in the battle was Ellwood who had another 18 assists, Havana Olander scored 10 blocks and Alaina Eck led the team in both kills with 17 and digs by punching out 16.

Taking on top seed South Gray in the state semi-finals, Little River was pushed again to go three sets (25-15/23-25/25-7) before getting the win and advancing to the state title match. Evie Look directed the team with 16 assists, Adelynne Strecker and Kim Grasser knocked out 14 and 13 digs each while Alaina Eck recorded 13 kills.

Little River needed just two sets to earn their second state title in two years, beating fourth seed Centralia (25-15/25-15) as Ellwood finished with a dozen assists, Strecker made 10 more digs and Eck knocked out another 10 kills.

LITTLE RIVER LADY REDSKINS at Class 1A Division I State Tournament

Pool Play – Match 1 vs. Olpe

Won 2-0; 25-12 / 25-10.

Assists (30) > Kate Ellwood – 17; Evie Look – 11; Ashley Stephenson – 2.

Blocks (5) > Aubrey Olander – 3; Ashley Stephenson/Kami Grasser – 1.

Digs (41) > Alaina Eck – 11; Adelynne Strecker – 10; Kami Grasser – 7; Kate Ellwood/Havana Olander – 4; Ashley Stephenson/Lucy Wright – 2.

Kills (31) > Aubrey Olander – 9; Alaina Eck – 8; Ashley Stephenson/Kami Grasser – 4; Havana Olander – 3.

Service Aces (3) > Kami Grasser/Kate Ellwood/Havana Olander – 1.

Pool Play – Match 2 vs. Clifton/Clyde

Won 2-0; 25-17 / 25-8.

Assists (26) > Kate Ellwood – 12; Evie Look – 9; Alaina Eck – 2.

Blocks (9) > Aubrey Olander – 4; Kami Grasser – 3; Havana Olander -2.

Digs (26) > Alaina Eck – 8; Kate Ellwood – 6; Adelynne Strecker – 3; Ashley Stephenson/Kami Grasser/Aubrey Olander – 2.

Kills (29) > Aubrey Olander – 8; Ashley Stephenson – 7; Alaina Eck – 6; Havana Olander – 4; Kami Grasser – 3.

Service Aces (4) > Havana Olander – 2; Kami Grasser/Kate Ellwood – 1.

Pool Play – Match 3 vs. Spearville

Won 2-1; 25-11 / 24-26 / 25-19.

Assists (38) > Kate Ellwood – 18; Evie Look – 12; Ashley Stephenson – 3; Adelynne Strecker/Alaina Eck – 2.

Blocks (35) > Havana Olander – 10; Aubrey Olander/Kami Grasser – 7; Ashley Stephenson – 6; Lucy Wright – 5; Alaina Eck/Erika Feldman – 2.

Digs (64) > Alaina Eck – 16; Adelynne Strecker – 15; Kate Ellwood – 11; Kami Grasser – 9; Evie Look – 7; Havana Olander – 3; Erika Feldman – 2.

Kills (40) > Alaina Eck – 17; Aubrey Olander – 6; Ashley Stephenson/Kami Grasser – 5; Havana Olander – 3; Lucy Wright/Erika Feldman – 2.

Service Aces (0).

Semi-Finals vs. Centralia

Won 2-0; 25-15 / 25-15.

Assists (29) > Kate Ellwood – 12; Evie Look – 10; Ashley Stephenson/Lucy Wright – 3.

Blocks (8) > Aubrey Olander/Havana Olander – 3; Lucy Wright – 2.

Digs (43) > Adelynne Strecker – 10; Havana Olander – 9; Kami Grasser – 8; Alaina Eck – 7; Kate Ellwood – 5; Aubrey Olander – 2.

Kills (30) > Alaina Eck – 10; Kami Grasser – 5; Ashley Stephenson – 4; Aubrey Olander/Havana Olander – 4; Lucy Wright – 3.

Service Aces (3) > Adelynne Strecker/ Kami Grasser/Alaina Eck – 1.

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP vs. South Gray

Won 2-1; 25-15 / 23-25 / 25-7.

Assists (34) > Evie Look – 16; Kate Ellwood – 14; Lucy Wright – 2.

Blocks (25) > Aubrey Olander – 7; Havana Olander – 5; Alaina Eck – 4; Lucy Wright/Ashley Stephenson/Kami Grasser – 3.

Digs (55) > Adelynne Strecker – 14; Kami Grasser – 13; Alaina Eck – 9; Kate Ellwood – 7; Evie Look – 5; Ashley Stephenson/Havana Olander/Lucy Wright – 2.

Kills (34) > Alaina Eck – 13; Aubrey Olander – 6; Kami Grasser/Havana Olander – 5; Ashley Stephenson – 3; Lucy Wright – 2.

Service Aces (2) > Kami Grasser/Alaina Eck – 1.

(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at macks.people.places@gmail.com)