The volleyball team claimed a redemption win over Hayden and cruised by Leavenworth to go undefeated on senior night Monday.
The wins moved the Cardinals to 19 straight victories and a 30-4 record. They currently hold the top seed in the Class 4A East region.
The team celebrated seven seniors: Malia Dietz, Adira Ewy, Camron McCormick, Miranda Kuntz, Adalyn Hemphill, Indigo Pruitt and manager Jaycee Campbell.
They opened the night by knocking off Hayden, who Eudora lost to earlier in the season.
After starting strong, the Cardinals struggled to close out the first set, as Hayden roared back to draw even at 24-24. But, the Cardinals were determined to avoid a repeat of their loss earlier in the season and claimed the first set 28-26.
The second set was all Cardinals, with a dominant performance helping them clinch the match with a 25-16 win.
“I think we came out with a lot of energy in the Topeka-Hayden game, which really helped us, especially in the second set after coming off of a tough win in the first set and only winning by two,” Kuntz said. “So, I think continuing that energy through each game really helped us.”
Head coach Brooke Hopper said the win showcased the Cardinals’ improvement.
“We talked about the things that we needed to change,” Hopper said. “We’ve made some changes along the way. The girls have grown a ton in the past few weeks. So I just think everything really came together tonight, and we’re all clicking at a really great time.”
Between the two games, the seniors were recognized.
“It was a really great experience,” Ewy said. “It was like an amazing vibe in there, and everyone was having a really good time. And it’s a good team to end with.”
The ceremony was filled with emotions and embraces.
“This was an amazing senior night,” Pruitt said.
Many of the seniors have played together in some form for years and have watched each other grow and improve.
“It’s really emotional, because we’ve played together for so long, and we’re just all, like, really good friends outside of this,” Hemphill said. “So, it’s hard to think of this as our last home game, possibly, but it’s also like a rewarding feeling.”
The team capped the night with a smooth win over Leavenworth by a score of 25-12, 25-11. The successful night showed the Cardinals they are headed in the right direction as the postseason approaches.
“I think us making it to state last year is going to help us this year,” Dietz said. “We know what it’s like and we’re not going to be so, like, frazzled by it, and we have so much talent to place this year.”
Hopper said the team has continued on the right trajectory and she is excited to see what they can accomplish.
“We’re playing well at the end of the season, and that’s what you want,” she said. “We’ve made some adjustments and we have people who are really working on certain skills, adding to their toolbox, and you know, it’s clicking, it’s working.”
Reach reporter Cuyler Dunn at [email protected]
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