Staff writer
The Centre High School volleyball team competed in a tougher sub-state this year than in 2011, when they were runner-up.
Playing at Flint Hills of Rosalia, the fourth-seeded Lady Cougars (19-12) handily defeated Hartford (1-26) in the first round. However, they then faced 2011 state champion Olpe (26-4), the top seed. Centre was defeated in two games.
The Lady Cougars defeated Hartford, 25-11 and 25-19. Brianna Svoboda had 10 service points. Cacey Simons and Shelby Makovec served for five points each. Genesis Rudolph and Makovec were perfect in setting the ball.
Anna Weber completed 11 of 12 spike attempts with six kills. She added three blocks. Also compiling offensive statistics were Ellie Miller, 5/7-3-6; Simons, 6/6-3-2; Svoboda, 10/12-4-0; and Beka Basore, 2/3-1-1.
The team was competitive in the second game with Olpe, garnering 13 rally points and forcing the game to a 27-25 finish for a loss. They were defeated 25-11 in the first game.
Svoboda again was the leading server with six service points including two aces.
Svoboda also led at the net with 17 spikes including eight kills. Weber was 16 of 17 including four kills and had two blocks; Simons had eight of 10 spikes, three kills, and two blocks; Basore was eight of nine with one kill and two blocks.
Miller led the team in blocking with seven stuffs, followed by Makenzie Deines with six.
It was the last match of their high school volleyball careers for seniors Basore, Miller, Rudolph, Carlson, and Weber. The team finished the season with a record of 20-13.