Tiger volleyball fourth at Pittsburg

PITTSBURG -- Fort Scott High School's volleyball team faced tough competition at the Pittsburg Invitational here Saturday but managed a fourth-place finish.

"It was a really tough tournament," Fort Scott head coach Carol Bingesser said. "We started at 10 a.m. and played back-to-back five matches. No lunch; we got finished at 5:15."

The Tigers (13-5) began the day with a 25-20, 25-10 loss to Blue Valley Southwest, which went on to fall in the championship match to Carthage, Mo. Mallory Shelton had 3 kills, 5 blocks and 5 ace serves while Kenzie Heatherly had 7 assists.

Next came a 3-game win over Nevada, 24-26, 25-21, 25-21. Jenna Campbell served 12 acres. Kori Allen 8 and Shelton 5. Shelton led with 15 kills while Megan McDermed had 10 and Kelsey Middleton had 6. Heatherly dealt 17 assists and Caitlin Shorter handed out 12.

Southeast Kansas League rival Labette County (14-3) was next and the Tigers took the Grizzlies in three, 10-25, 25-14, 26-24.

"That was a great match," Bingesser said. "The girls really showed a lot of heart, played really tough."

Shelton had 8 kills, 4 aces and 3 blocks in the match. McDermed had 6 kills, 5 aces and 5 digs and Campbell was credited with 4 kills and 6 aces. Heatherly 11 assists and 6 aces.

The Tigers finished second in their pool and advanced to face Carthage, Mo., in the semifinals, where they lost in two games.

"They're a very good team," Bingesser said. "They're very solid and played great defense."

Shelton has 6 kills and Heatherly had 7 assists in that match.

The Tigers played Girard for third place lost to the Trojans in three, 22-25, 25-13, 25-22.

"We played with all the strength we had left," Bingesser said as the Tigers were playing their fifth consecutive match without any break at all. "We just ran out of steam, we were exhausted by the third game but the girls played tough."

Shelton had 12 kills in the match with 4 aces and 3 blocks. McDermed and Middleton each had 5 kills. Heatherly served 13 aces and dished 13 assists. Campbell served 10 aces.

The Tigers will open Southeast Kansas League play Thursday evening as they travel to Parsons for a triangular that will also include Coffeyville. Play is set to begin at 5 p.m. at the Harold C. Johnson Gymnasium at Parsons High School.

Junior varsity 2-2 in home tourney

Fort Scott's junior varsity team finished in third place with a 2-2 record in the Southeast Kansas League Junior Varsity Tournament, held at the FSHS gymnasium and Buck Run Community Center Saturday.

The Tigers defeated Columbus in their first match, 25-15, 25-6. Ericah Shoemaker served 4 of the team's 10 aces. Sidney Maycumber had 5 kills. Maddi Allen recorded 11 assists.

In the second match, the Tigers beat Independence 25-18, 28-26. Paige Denton had 15 digs while Breanne Lawrence had 8 kills and 2 aces.

Shawnee Mission West beat Fort Scott in the third match, 25-15, 25-21. Denton had 15 digs and Shoemaker had 10. Lawrence had 4 kills and Allen had 6 assists.

In the final match, Labette County downed the Tigers, 25-23, 25-16. Lawrence had 6 kills while Allen had 12 assists.

The Tiger JV (7-4) goes to Parsons Thursday for a triangular.