Axtell Eagles Volleyball

Returning to State this year the Axtell lady Eagles looked to improve upon their third place State finish in 1A-Division II from a season ago and that they did with a State runner-up performance, matching the best volleyball State performance in school history.

The State tournament opened up for Axtell against Wheatland-Grinnell in pool play and the Eagles found themselves down early but battled back to force the match to three sets, unfortunately falling in the contest. The Eagles responded hitting the court against the one seed at State in St. John’s/Tipton and they earned a tough three set victory. Needing another win in pool play to get to the Semifinals Axtell took on Burrton and won in straight sets to claim a spot in the Semifinals. In the Semi’s the Eagles took down the defending champs in Logan in straight sets. That set up a rematch in the Championship with Wheatland-Grinnell and while the sets were close the Eagles fell in two sets to finish as State runner-up.

On the year the Eagles finished 32-11, finishing second in the Twin Valley League in the regular season and fourth in the tournament, while taking second at their home Invite, third at Valley Falls and fourth at Wabaunsee Invite. All the losses for the Eagles on the season came to ranked teams in their respective classification.

Senior trio of Kiersten Talbot, Courtney Heinen and Taylor Feldkamp earned All-State All-tournament team honors. The rest of the team played key parts during State and all season for the Eagles with seniors, Bradie Schmitz, Megan Buessing and Alexis Werner, along with juniors, Maddy Kuckelman, Anna Buessing, Emily Ronnebaum and Patricia Heiman and sophomores, Trisha Matthewson and Chelsea Smith.

Back to back strong volleyball seasons for the Axtell Eagles finishing as one of the top teams in Class 1A-DII the last two years.