Star-Journbal Editor
After setting a blistering pace to stay undefeated and ranked No. 1 in Class 3A volleyball for most of the season, but then falling to Moundridge, the No. 1 ranked Class 2A team, Hillsboro coach Sandy Arnold could tell from her team's sluggish win this past Tuesday at Wichita Collegiate that the Trojans needed a day off.
So that's what they got.
One day off.
This past Wednesday.
"It was about the only time they could have a day off," Arnold said. "It's been a pretty long run."
The run has been long, yes, but this team's goal from the start has been to cross the finish as Class 3A state champions.
This week Hillsboro (20-1) is ranked No. 2 in Class 3A in the Kansas Volleyball Association poll.
If the Trojans were marathon runners, Hillsboro fans could line the streets, shouting, "Come on, Trojans! You can do it! The finish line is three weekends, three tournaments, three steps away!"
Even though the Trojans have found their second wind, they know these three steps will the most difficult of all.
— The first step comes at 9 a.m. Saturday, when Hoisington (19-4) and ranked No. 3 in Class 3A, Minneapolis, and Conway Springs come to town for the Trojan Invitational tournament.
As of this week, Hoisington had lost only two matches all season, to Hillsboro and Minneapolis. Conway Springs also is a powerful team.
— The second step comes a week later, when Hillsboro hosts the Class 3A Sub-State volleyball tournament beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 21. In addition to the Trojans, the bracket includes Halstead, Haven, Hesston, Hutchinson Trinity, Lyons, Marion and Whitewater-Remington.
— When the Trojans win the sub-state tournament, they'll have the right to take the third and final step, to the Class 3A State Championship, Oct. 27-28, at the Salina Bicentennial Center.
Arnold says having two of the three steps at home gives the Trojans a wind-at-their-backs advantage.
"The boys usually come out pretty crazy-like, and that's fun," she said.
Crazy-like fun doesn't describe the mood at Trojan practices, where the focus has been on getting better.
"We're not done yet, we have a lot to learn yet," Arnold said. "We're going to try some new drills and make our average skills better. Make our serves more of a weapon. Make our defense more solid."
The Trojans' loss Sept. 30 to the top-ranked 2A team, Moundridge, showed Arnold that her team needed to work on its court savvy.
"Moundridge was very scrappy," she said. "They have six people that can hit the ball, and who are smart; smart and good.
"In a way I'm glad that game is behind us," she added. "But in another way I'd like another chance."
Arnold won't use it as an excuse, but Hillsboro played Moundridge in the finals of the Canton-Galva Invitational with a key player missing from its lineup.
Back line specialist, Amanda Bina, suffered a serious ankle sprain earlier in the day and missed the match, which was lost, 25-19, 25-12.
Bina has been on the mend, and Arnold plans to use her sparingly, if at all, on Saturday. Bina might be a little late, anyway, Arnold said.
"Her brother is getting married Saturday afternoon in Wichita and she's in the ceremony," Arnold said. "The wedding is a three, so we still might still be playing when she gets back."
Arnold isn't angry about conflict; family comes first, she said. But she does wish Bina's brother had checked the team's game schedule before setting the wedding date.
Trojan fans should circle the next two Saturdays on their calendars and make no other plans than to be in the stands in the Hillsboro gym.
If the race goes according to plan, fans should leave the following Friday and Saturday dates open as well, to be there at finish line.
