For the first time in school history, Blue Springs has reached the championship round of the Class 4 final four.
Coach Katie Grusing’s Wildcats opened with a 25-15 round-robin loss to Ozark, then claimed a 29-27 victory to even their Final Four record at 1-1.
The Wildcats followed with a 25-22, 27-25 over defending state champion St. Joseph’s Academy and clinched the championship berth with a 25-19, 25-12 victory over Incarnate Word Academy to wrap up Friday’s round-robin play with a 5-1 mark.
The 36-4-1 Wildcats meet Ozark, which was 4-2 in round-robin play, in the 4 p.m. championship Saturday at Kansas City’s Municipal Auditorium.
“When we lost the first game against Ozark, no one panicked or got down or anything like that,” said Wildcats senior middle hitter Lisa Henning, who had a team-high 30 kills.
“I think it just made us more determined. We didn’t come to the final four to play for third place, we came to play for first place – and now we’re doing it, and it’s like a dream come true.”
The Wildcats met Ozark earlier this year at the Blue Springs South Tournament and claimed a three-game victory.
“They’re really good,” said senior right side hitter Kirsten Erikson, who had 20 kills for the Wildcats, “but so are we. I think we proved something to ourselves today when we came back from that opening loss.
“We were really disappointed, but we were really determined, too. When you think of all the great accomplishments we’ve had in volleyball, and now we have the chance to win the first championship in school history, it’s pretty special.”
Grusing’s Wildcats were a win away from advancing to state last year and now her talent-laden squad knows that the ultimate team goal is within their grasp.
“I’ve told you so many times this year that this team is special,” Grusing said, “and not just because they are so talented. They’re just the best kids in the school. They’re polite, fun to be around and we all get to be together for another day and that’s special.”
And how special would a state championship be?
“It would be great,” Grusing said as she sported an ear-to-ear grin. “They worked so hard to come back from that opening loss, and then dug down and found a way to beat St. Joseph’s in two tough games. They deserve a state championship.”
The Wildcats trailed in both games against St. Joseph’s but found a way to inch their way back into a winning groove.
“Lisa is Lisa – we all look up to Lisa,” Grusing said of the 6-foot-1 senior hitter, “and she was wonderful tonight. But the other girls played a big role in the win. Lisa will be the first one to tell you can’t do it all by herself. She had a lot of help out there tonight.”
Junior setter Kiely Culbertson was all over the court with 55 assists – including an amazing 30 in the split with Ozark, and Taryn Miller added 24 digs.
“You know what’s great is that we get to go home and sleep in our own beds and eat at home and come down here tomorrow ready to go,” Erikson said.
“I know none of us will get much sleep tonight, we’re just too excited. But at least we’ll be home and comfortable while we wait for tomorrow’s match.”
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For the first time in school history, Blue Springs has reached the championship round of the Class 4 final four.
Coach Katie Grusing’s Wildcats opened with a 25-15 round-robin loss to Ozark, then claimed a 29-27 victory to even their Final Four record at 1-1.
The Wildcats followed with a 25-22, 27-25 over defending state champion St. Joseph’s Academy and clinched the championship berth with a 25-19, 25-12 victory over Incarnate Word Academy to wrap up Friday’s round-robin play with a 5-1 mark.
The 36-4-1 Wildcats meet Ozark, which was 4-2 in round-robin play, in the 4 p.m. championship Saturday at Kansas City’s Municipal Auditorium.
“When we lost the first game against Ozark, no one panicked or got down or anything like that,” said Wildcats senior middle hitter Lisa Henning, who had a team-high 30 kills.
“I think it just made us more determined. We didn’t come to the final four to play for third place, we came to play for first place – and now we’re doing it, and it’s like a dream come true.”
The Wildcats met Ozark earlier this year at the Blue Springs South Tournament and claimed a three-game victory.
“They’re really good,” said senior right side hitter Kirsten Erikson, who had 20 kills for the Wildcats, “but so are we. I think we proved something to ourselves today when we came back from that opening loss.
“We were really disappointed, but we were really determined, too. When you think of all the great accomplishments we’ve had in volleyball, and now we have the chance to win the first championship in school history, it’s pretty special.”
Grusing’s Wildcats were a win away from advancing to state last year and now her talent-laden squad knows that the ultimate team goal is within their grasp.
“I’ve told you so many times this year that this team is special,” Grusing said, “and not just because they are so talented. They’re just the best kids in the school. They’re polite, fun to be around and we all get to be together for another day and that’s special.”
And how special would a state championship be?
“It would be great,” Grusing said as she sported an ear-to-ear grin. “They worked so hard to come back from that opening loss, and then dug down and found a way to beat St. Joseph’s in two tough games. They deserve a state championship.”
The Wildcats trailed in both games against St. Joseph’s but found a way to inch their way back into a winning groove.
“Lisa is Lisa – we all look up to Lisa,” Grusing said of the 6-foot-1 senior hitter, “and she was wonderful tonight. But the other girls played a big role in the win. Lisa will be the first one to tell you can’t do it all by herself. She had a lot of help out there tonight.”
Junior setter Kiely Culbertson was all over the court with 55 assists – including an amazing 30 in the split with Ozark, and Taryn Miller added 24 digs.
“You know what’s great is that we get to go home and sleep in our own beds and eat at home and come down here tomorrow ready to go,” Erikson said.
“I know none of us will get much sleep tonight, we’re just too excited. But at least we’ll be home and comfortable while we wait for tomorrow’s match.”
