Trojan netters on a four-game winning streak
Hillsboro High School volleyball team headed into its own tournament Saturday on a four-game winning streak and took third place at the Hillsboro Trojan Invitational.
The Trojans defeated Sterling 25-22, 25-23 and Herington 25-7, 25-9 to finish second in pool play with a record of 2-1. Hillsboro's one loss in pool play was to Conway Springs, 25-22, 25-10. Conway won the tournament with a 5-0 record.
In the finals, Hillsboro lost to Hoisington 15-25, 25-8, 25-15 and defeated Minneapolis 25-19, 9-25, and 27-25 for a third place finish.
In the Sterling match, sophomore JuliAnne Chisholm was 8-11 in attacks with three kills; sophomore Tina Frick, 8-12, four kills; and senior Emily Ratzlaff, 10-11, two kills. Junior Tiffany Knaak was 13-15 in serving with seven aces.
Against Conway Springs, sophomore Jenny Whisenhunt was 9-9 in attacks with two kills. Knaak was 15-16 in serving with five aces. The Trojans were 18-18 in passing for 100 percent.
Hillsboro went up against Herington in the third match of the tournament. Frick was 6-6 in attacks with six kills. The team made 94 percent of its serves with junior Laura Lindsay serving 11-11 with two aces. The team had 12 aces in the match.
The Trojans lost to Hoisington in the first match of tournament play. Chisholm and Skiles led the team in kills with four each. Frick was 7-9 in blocking. Ratzlaff was 15-15 in serving with one ace.
For the third place finish, Hillsboro defeated Minneapolis. Chisholm had eight kills and 100 percent serving with one ace. Skiles had three kills and three aces and Frick had five blocks and two kills.
Senior night festivities Oct. 12 marked the end of the Trojans' regular season home games.
"The seniors have done a nice job for me," said coach Sandy Arnold. "They have done what I have asked them to do and I appreciate them."
The Trojans defeated Halstead at home Tuesday 21-25, 25-13, and 25-13 and 25-21, 25-21.
In match one, Laura Skiles led the team in attacks, 16-18 with six kills. Chisholm was 8-11 with seven kills and Frick was 11-13 with four kills.
Knaak was the Trojan bright spot in serving, 15-15 with three aces. The team only made 87 percent of its serves.
In match two, Chisholm was 15-16 in attacks with eight kills; Skiles, 11-13, three kills; and Frick, 9-10, eight kills.
The Trojans again struggled serving in the second match, 78 percent. Senior Katie Baltzer led the team, 10-12 with two aces. Senior Amy Duerksen was 93 percent in setting.
"We did a lot of things well in the matches against Halstead," Arnold said. "Halstead is a scrappy team. They made us look sloppy at times. We did play aggressively."
Oct. 5, the Trojans took two from Marion, 25-22, 22-25, 25-12 and 25-19, 25-11.
In the first match, the sophomore duo of Frick and Chisholm led the team in attacks. Frick was 14-14 in attacks with six kills while Chisholm was 12-13 with eight kills. Chisholm attempted 13 blocks with five solos and five assists. Frick attempted 16 blocks with three solos and seven assists.
Laura Lindsay led the Trojans in serves, 12-12 with three aces. Amy Duerksen was 60-61 in setting with 15 assists. Laura Skiles was 10-11 in passing and 4-5 in digs.
Frick and sophomore Jessica Heidel were both 100 percent in attacking. Frick was 5-5 with two kills and Heidel, 4-4 with three kills. Chisholm led the team with five kills. Frick had three solo blocks and one assist. Ratzlaff was 13-13 in serving with four aces and Baltzer was 8-8 with one ace. Ratzlaff and Skiles were each 2-2 in defensive digs.
The 12-15 Trojans play Saturday at sub-state in Marion. Game time is 1 p.m.
