The Varsity Volleyball Team was on a hot streak last week, getting the sweep at home on Senior Night, followed by a 4-1 day and a second-place finish at the El Dorado Tournament.

On Senior Night, the Hornets took on Salina South and Derby, defeating Salina South in two sets and Derby in three. Against Salina South, the team's defense shined, as the team blocked well, had scrappy defense, and exhibited great communication. Coach Unrau stated that the team remained "cool, calm, and collected" when the score got close, which enabled the girls to finish the match in two sets. Against Derby, the team limited their errors on both sides of the ball and, despite losing the first set by two, delivered strong performances in the second and third sets. Standout performances from the match include Ava Jacquez's 2.27 serve-receive rating and Taylor McDonald's 15 kills with a .462 hitting percentage.

Scores for the night are as follows:
Valley Center vs. Salina South: 25-22, 25-16
Valley Center vs. Derby: 25-27, 25-17, 25-20

A special shout-out to our seniors for all of their dedication to the sport and our program. We love and appreciate you!

On Saturday, the Hornets traveled to El Dorado, where they went 4-1 on the day and secured a second-place finish. The team started the day with two dominant wins over Augusta and El Dorado, swinging aggressively and hitting .303 as a team, with 13 blocks and 12 aces between the two matches. Teagan Canady led the offensive charge with 15 kills, hitting .591, while Anna Duncan and Reagan McDonald led the defensive effort, each contributing 7 blocks.

The team then faced a tough Chanute team, struggling to pick up smartly placed tips but ultimately prevailing in three sets. Taylor McDonald shined in the match with 17 kills, hitting .500, while Gia Roeser demonstrated exceptional pass consistency with a 2.12 serve-receive rating and no errors.

The Hornets then faced Buhler and played very well, posting stellar serve-receive and hitting stats. The team had 28 kills collectively, with Taylor McDonald contributing 8, Teagan Canady adding 7, and Anna Duncan recording 6, while they passed a 2.09, led by Teagan Canady’s 2.21 rating.

Finally, the Hornets made it to the championship match, where they took on a then 27-2 Great Bend. Although the team passed well with a 2.15 rating, they struggled to find consistency, eliminate their hitting errors, and make defensive adjustments throughout the match, ultimately losing in two sets.

Scores for the day are as follows:
Valley Center vs. Augusta: 25-12, 25-17
Valley Center vs. El Dorado: 25-18, 25-13
Valley Center vs. Chanute: 23-25, 25-20, 25-14
Valley Center vs. Buhler: 25-20, 25-17
Valley Center vs. Great Bend: 18-25, 19-25

The Hornet Volleyball Team is now 18-10 on the season, with a big week coming up. The girls will take on Hutchinson and Maize South on Tuesday at Hutchinson, then travel to Campus on Thursday, where they will face Campus and Andover to close out their regular season.