Tigers play SEK spoiler

FAIRWAY -- Fort Scott High School's volleyball team did not win the Southeast Kansas League championship here Thursday night. But their victory over Chanute allowed the Tigers to tie for third place and forced the Blue Comets to settle for a tie for the title with Pittsburg.

Fort Scott defeated the Comets, 25-25, 25-18, 25-23, to finish 4-2 in league play. The Tigers, 15-16 overall, tied with Independence (23-4) which beat Coffeyville in straight sets at Coffeyville.

Chanute (5-1, 24-14) was looking for its fourth consecutive outright championship. Meanwhile, Pittsburg (5-1, 22-10) swept Parsons and Labette County in a triangular at Altamont to capture a share of its first league championship since 2011.

Chanute or Pittsburg has won nine of the last 10 SEK volleyball championships, the exception being Fort Scott in 2009.

In Fort Scott's win, Ashley Cook led the Tigers with 17 kills and handed out 58 assists. Karlee Stanley dished 41 assists and came up with 13 digs. Katie Gorman led in digs with 18.

Both teams then had to face two-time defending State champion Bishop Miege (19-11), which is ranked No. 1 in Class 4A-Division I by the Kansas Volleyball Association. The Lady Stags play in the Eastern Kansas League, which is predominantly a Class 6A-5A league, which includes all of the Blue Valley Schools and St. Thomas Aquinas.

Miege swept Chanute, 25-8, 25-12, and Fort Scott, 25-9, 25-14). Emily Hale had 3 kills for the Tigers while Cook handed out 20 assists and Stanley 15.

Fort Scott will conclude the regular season today at the Anderson County Tournament. Sub-State will be held in Ottawa a week from today.