🏐 Hillsboro completes 'unfinished business,' wins rematch with Smith Center for 2A crown

DODGE CITY, Kan— While keeping her team focused on the task at hand throughout the Class 2A tournament, Hillsboro coach Sandy Arnold couldn’t help but feel the Trojans were perhaps on a collision course with defending champion Smith Center for a rematch of last year's final. 

When that matchup came to fruition, a little extra motivation certainly didn’t hurt Hillsboro’s cause. 

“The last two years they’ve just totally dominated us,” Arnold said of the Lady Red. “(A rematch) was probably always in the back of my mind a little bit and in the girls’ minds. 

“We talked before we left the locker room after the Inman match (in the semifinal) that we had some unfinished business to do with Smith Center. They’re a very, very good team.”

The Trojans weren’t going to be denied this time, cruising to a 25-12, 25-13 win over Smith Center in the championship match on Saturday at United Wireless Arena to earn redemption and complete a 44-1 season. 

Hillsboro controlled the match from the get-go, keeping a gritty Smith Center squad out of rhythm.

“I didn’t feel we were completely focused (Friday for pool play),” Arnold said. “I thought we played a little tight and a little distracted. I think it was maybe the fact that we wanted it so badly.

“I asked them to bring that hype and bring that emotion and passion, because that’s why we’re playing this game, because we all love it. You got to show that (energy) out there, and they brought it.”

The Lady Red (40-5), who took a two-set win over Jefferson County North in the semifinal, struggled to string together a run against the Trojans, who were mistake-free for most of the match. 

“That’s the best team we’ve seen all year and (Coach Arnold) told me that’s the best they’ve played,” said Smith Center coach Nick Linn, who celebrated career win No. 1,000 last week. “Blocking was spot-on. Their serve-receive was really good. Their hitters are consistent and there’s a number of them. We got stuff blocked a ton.”

Hillsboro relied on an aggressive attack fueled by junior outside hitters Zaylee Werth and Savannah Shahan. 

“We saw in pool play what happened when (opponents) attacked both those teams (Inman and Smith Center), and what happened when they didn’t attack both those teams,” Arnold said. “We saw that when they got attacked hard, they didn’t defend as well. That was our game plan to attack and make them make a play and get them out of system and give us easier balls to attack.”

“We were on a mission and we delivered today,” said senior libero Kori Arnold, Coach Arnold’s daughter. 

It was Hillsboro’s fifth state championship and first since the Trojans finished off a 3-peat in 2013. 

Hillsboro has a six-player senior class in Arnold, Ella Suderman, Makenna Reed, Dymia Cox, Keeley Brewer and Kirstin Kluver.

“Obviously last year we wanted it a lot, but this year this team is so special and we have great chemistry and that makes us want it and work together even better,” Kori Arnold said. “We wanted to come back and get that revenge and get a title.”

“I’ve coached these girls since they were itty bitty for this moment right here,” Coach Arnold said. “That makes it even closer to my heart. It’s a very emotional win for us today.”

The Arnolds embraced in a huge hug following the last point. 

“It was really sweet. I’ve played volleyball since I can remember and she’s taught me absolutely everything I know about the game,” Kori said of her mother. “Losing last year (stunk), but to win it my fourth year with her by my side was really special.”

After losing two all-state players off last year’s title team, Smith Center could hardly be disappointed in a 40-win season and a runner-up finish. 

“We’re happy,” Linn said. “We’re tickled we got through (Friday) and did well and came through in the semis. We knew what we were facing (in the final). To do what a lot of teams weren’t able to do and be on this court today, we’re thrilled.”

The Lady Red will lose seniors Maile Hrabe, Haley Feldmann and Katherine Christner, but will return a strong core next year including juniors Camryn Hutchinson, Gracie Kirchoff, Dakota Kattenberg, Tinley Rentschler and Baylee Archer. 

Jefferson County North captured third place with a 25-18, 25-22 win over Inman.