🏐 KSHSAA Covered: Class 4A Storyline

By: KSHSAA COVERED STAFF, Bret Maycock

CLASS 4A At The Hutchinson Sports Arena 

EUDORA SWEEPS SUB-STATE COMPETITION TO REACH STATE FOR 1ST TIME IN 4 YEARS

Eudora overcame Frontier League rival Baldwin in the sub-state final, following a victory over Fort Scott earlier in the day. Both wins were sweeps for the Cardinals.

In the final, Eudora rolled 25-11 in the first set before the Bulldogs gave them a better fight in the second. But the Cardinals maintained a three-point advantage late in the set as the team ultimately clinched the victory with a 25-22 win.

Eudora head coach Brooke Hopper said the key to taking down Baldwin was the team’s mental game and first ball opportunities.

“We knew we would need to move on quickly from mistakes and push through together,”Hopper said.

“With a team like Baldwin, if you choose to dwell on a mistake they will quickly put another ball back at you keeping the momentum. We took advantage of first ball opportunities pretty well the whole game.”

The Cardinals are led by a strong contingent of upperclassmen. Senior Rayah Foltz and junior Adalyn Hemphill lead the team in kills with 316 and 249 respectively. Senior Ellie Suber is tasked with setting those two up as she leads the team with 710 assists.

That trio also gets the team a lot of points via serve. Suber leads the way with 48 aces, followed by Hemphill at 46 and Foltz at 34. All three also have at least 130 digs, led by Foltz at 289.

While Foltz and Hemphill get most of the scores, senior Madison Karten and junior Indigo Pruitt are tasked with not allowing other teams to score against the Cardinals.

Karten and Pruitt are tied for the team lead on blocks with 56 blocks.Although those players have often led the way, Hopper said the team has succeeded because they’ve all played selflessly this season.

“We have a special group that doesn’t care who gets the credit,” Hopper said. “They understand everyone plays a role and each role is just as important as the next. They love being together and playing for something bigger than themselves. Unity is strength.”

Eudora enters state with a 23-8 record and on a nine-match win streak. This is also Eudora Hopper’s first year as the team’s head coach.

“I feel such pride in this team being able to play to this level,” Hopper said. “I think making it to state this year is a true testament of the leadership within our program. You can have a world class coach, but until the players buy in and do the work, it won’t matter.

“We truly have a special group here and they intend to fight to leave a legacy at Eudora High School to continue to build on.”

The Cardinals will have a tough road to reaching the state semifinals. They will have last year’s 4A state champion and state runner-up in the same pool. Eudora will battle Andale first before facing reigning champs Bishop Miege.

It doesn't get easier for the team’s third match, where Eudora will face the No. 1 seed Clearwater.

Eudora is looking for its first state title since 2006.