HUTCHISON, KS — For the second year in a row the Goodland Cowgirls’ volleyball season came to an end in pool play at the 3A State Volleyball Tournament inside the Hutchison Sports Arena.
After making to the state final four in 2020, finishing in fourth place, and then going 0-3 in pool play in 2021 the Cowgirls were determined to bring home some hardware. Unfortunately for Goodland it was just not meant be.
Things looked really good out of the gate for GHS who looked very sharp in their first match of the day sweeping Eureka in straight sets, 25-17 & 25-18.
After about an hour or so break the Cowgirls were back on the floor this time taking on the defending state champs Olathe-Heritage Christian, a team that beat the Cowgirls in straight sets the year before. The 2022 version of the match was more of the same as the Chargers won two sets to none, 25-18 & 25-15.
Goodland would then have to wait for another two hours before they would play their final match of the day against Riverton. Both teams came into the match with 1-1 records in pool play meaning that the winner of the match would punch their ticket to the final four and get to play on Saturday for a shot at a title.
The Goodland/Riverton match was one of the most competitive and evenly matched matches of the entire pool play. Set one saw both teams trade the first ten points. Riverton would push their lead to 18-16 before GHS went on a 5-0 run to take a 21-18 lead. But from that point forward the Rams would finish the set on a 7-2 run to get the win.
Set two was just as entertaining with Goodland grabbing an early two point lead before Riverton came back to lead 10-9. Goodland would then win five straight points grabbing the largest lead of the match, 14-10. The Rams would again fight their way back again. Down two, Riverton went on a 5-0 run to grab a 22-19 lead. Goodland would get it to 23-22 before the Rams scored the last two points to win the set and the match, 2-0.
The loss eliminated the Cowgirls from the tournament and ended their 2022 season with a 37-5 overall record. On Saturday, Riverton would go on to placed 4th while Heritage Christian would sweep Nemaha Central in the championship match to win their third straight state title.
Perhaps the hardest thing about the loss from the Goodland perspective is that it ends a run by an amazing senior class. In their four years the Cowgirls went an impressive 126-39 with three straight GWAC titles & three straight state tourney appearances.
Telexa Weeter ends her high school career with over 1,000 kills & 1,000 digs. Olivia Lehman ends her career with over 2,000 career assists and led the state in assists. And Lindsey Cure ends her career with over 350 blocks in her career as well as 800 career kills.
Coach Angie Brumbaugh Post Tournament Comments: