Video courtesy of KWCH Catch-it-Kansas
SALINA, Kan.—The Hutchinson Salthawks remembered 2021 and did not let the same thing happen in pool play in 2022 at the class 5A State Championship opening day. In 2021, Hutch was stunned by going 0-3 in pool play. Not the case in 2022 as the Salthawks went 2-1 to advance to the semi-final bracket out of pool I with St. Thomas Aquinas. St. James Academy and Topeka Seaman advance out of pool II into today's Championship bracket.
Play beings at 1 pm at Tony's Pizza Center in Salina with Hutchinson vs St. James Academy while Topeka Seaman takes on St. Thomas Aquinas.
There will be a new champion in Class 5A as defending champion Lansing was denied a sixth straight trip to the state semifinals. But it took a heck of a comeback by Seaman to send the defending champions home.
In a match to determine the runner-up spot in Pool II behind St. James Academy, Lansing topped the Vikings 25-17 in the first set and led 22-18 in the second set before Seaman mustered a rally. The Vikings tied the match at 23-23 and fought off match point to score three straight points for a 26-24 win in the second set.
The momentum stayed firmly on Seaman’s side in the final set as the Vikings took control early and never looked back, winning the set 25-12 to advance to the semifinals and end Lansing’s tournament.
St. James went 3-0 in pool play, fighting off Lansing in a three-set opener (22-25, 25-15, 25-14) before handling Saman (25-17, 25-20) and Maize South (25-023, 25-18).
St. James (36-3) will take on Hutchinson (32-8) in its 1 p.m. semifinal, while Seaman (32-9) faces No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas (38-3), which cruised through its pool with wins over Bishop Carroll (25-20, 25-12), Hutchinson (25-19, 25-16) and Andover Central (25-16, 25-13).
POOL I
Hutchinson def. Andover Central, 25-20, 19-25, 25-20; St. Thomas Aquinas def. Bishop Carroll, 25-20, 25-12; Andover Central def. Bishop Carroll, 25-22, 26-24; St. Thomas Aquinas def. Hutchinson, 25-19, 25-16; Hutchinson def. Bishop Carroll, 25-11, 25-16; St. Thomas Aquinas def. Andover Central, 25-16, 25-13.
POOL II
Seaman def. Maize South, 26-24, 24-26, 25-17; St. James Academy def. Lansing, 22-25, 25-15, 25-14; Lansing def. Maize South, 26-24, 25-18; St. James Academy def. Seaman, 25-17, 25-20; Seaman def. Lansing, 17-25, 26-24, 25-12; St. James Academy def. Maize South, 25-23, 25-18.
Saturday’s 1 p.m. semifinals
St. Thomas Aquinas (38-3) vs. Seaman (32-9); St. James Academy (36-3) vs. Hutchinson (32-8).