SHS Lady Tigers fall just short of a trip to State

When the season started, one of the goals the Stockton Lady Tigers set for themselves was earning a trip to the state volleyball tournament. The last time the Lady Tigers had played at State was 28 years ago…in 1995, when they competed in Class 2A.

With Stockton chosen as one of the sub-state tournament sites for Class 1A Div I this year, the road on Saturday was paved for the home team. And, the third-seeded Lady Tigers took advantage of it, playing their way into the finals against fifth-seeded Atwood-Rawlins County.

Volleyball fans were treated to an exciting championship match between the two teams…a battle which could have gone either way. Unfortunately, it was the Stockton girls coming up on the short end of a 24-26, 29-31 match.

The St. Francis Lady Indians, the tournament’s number-one seed, got a first-round bye, but was upset by fifth-seeded Rawlins County in the semifinals, 25-20, 25-21. It was the third meeting of the season between the two teams, with St. Francis knocking off Rawlins County each time. When it really counted, however, the Lady Buffaloes got the big win, eliminating the tourney’s top seed.

The Lady Buffalos had advanced to the semifinal round after taking care of Downs-Lakeside 25-9, 25-18, in the quarter finals.

On the bottom side of the bracket, Mankato- Rock Hills, seeded second, was upset by seventh-seeded Oberlin- Decatur Community 25-17, 25-21, in the first round, sending the Lady Red Devils to the semifinals to take on Stockton, who had downed sixthseeded Osborne 25-13, 25-12.

After an easy win over the Lady Bulldogs, the Lady Tigers had a tough semifinal match against Decatur Community, winning it in three sets, 25-15, 22-25, 25-22, to advance to the finals against Rawlins County.

The final match of the day had a berth in the state tournament riding on it, and it was evident both teams were willing to lay it all on the line to earn that trip to Dodge City. It was a hard-fought championship match with several lengthy volleys, and the lead changing hands numerous times in both sets. In the end, however, the Lady Tigers were unable to get the key hit or block when they had the advantage, and Rawlins County would go on to capture the win and punch the ticket to United Wireless Arena next Friday and Saturday.

With the loss, Stockton finished the season with a record of 20 wins and 18 losses. The Lady Tigers had just two seniors their team this year…Claire Plumer and Breckyn Williams. Congratulations to the Stockton girls on a fun, successful season!