By BEN KLEINE

Staff writer

The Hillsboro High School volleyball team fought back from a 4-14 deficit in the third game against Hesston, eventually bringing the score to 11-14 on the strength of six consecutive serves by Krista Reimer.

The Swathers rallied back to push their lead to 12-17. Hillsboro slowly pushed back but still found themselves down 16-22. Tena Loewen scored a kill and Haley Jirak had an ace for consecutive points but Hesston returned with two scores.

With their backs against the wall at 18-24, the Trojans scored two points and seemed to have the momentum for a comeback. On the next Loewen serve, a Hesston player hit the ball just out of reach for Loewen to end the game and seal the match, 21-25, 25-21, and 20-25.

“I’m very proud,” coach Sandy Arnold said of the way the Trojans battled back. “What more can you ask for from a team that is young. We made them work for their points.”

Hillsboro defeated Douglass earlier in the evening, 25-14, 20-25, and 29-27, leaving the Trojans with a 10-1 record. Douglass played with a style using more quick hits and drops aimed to catch Hillsboro front line players off guard.

Hesston played with a more conventional style using spikes as its primary offense. The difference for the Trojans was frustrating.

However, the Trojans effort could not be questioned.

“They’re a scrappy group of girls,” Arnold said. “I can handle young mistakes. I can’t handle a lack of effort.”

Luck, inexperience, and the fatigue of playing two matches of three games went against the Trojans on several long volleys against Hesston, Arnold said. The Swathers got most of those momentum-swinging plays to bounce for them.

Arnold was already looking forward to a rematch with the Swathers Oct. 5 in Hesston.

“We’re ready to play them again,” Arnold said.

Hillsboro plays again Thursday at Council Grove.