News editor
Hillsboro took a big step in rebuilding Saturday by taking second place in the McPherson volleyball tournament.
Larger schools have dominated entries in past events, and this year was no different. Eight of the 10 teams were from classes 4A and higher, and class 3A Lyons was in the field.
School size hasn’t mattered to the Trojans, and that attitude was on display at the outset against 5A team Goddard. Hillsboro won the first game handily, 25-15, and prevailed in the second, 25-22.
In their second match of pool play, the Trojans squared off against Lyons, a team they’ve defeated twice this season. Saturday was more of the same, with Hillsboro winning 25-13, 25-20.
Hillsboro took leads and maintained them against Class 5A Salina Central, winning both games 25-19.
The only stumbling block for the Trojans in pool play was Bishop Carroll, ranked sixth in Class 5A by Kansas Volleyball Association. Hillsboro lost 25-19, 25-15.
Championship bracket action was next, with Class 4A McPherson as the opponent. The Trojans controlled the first game, winning 25-19. The second game was an extra-points nailbiter, with Hillsboro advancing to the championship with a slim 28-26 victory.
Bishop Carroll and Hillsboro met in the final, and the results were similar to pool play. The Trojans played the Golden Eagles closer in a 25-21 first-game loss, and closed the tournament with a 25-15 loss.
After contests against Haven and Halstead on Tuesday, Hillsboro returns home Saturday for the Trojans Invitational. Play begins at 9 a.m.