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Last year, the Lady Chargers made it to Emporia, but suffered two losses in bracket play to take fourth. This year, JCN charged forward to the state championship match, but suffered a close loss to the 3A champs last year, Hillsboro.
In pool play, Jefferson County North had a rematch with a team that the Lady Chargers lost to early in the year. Number four Mission Valley defeated JCN in the Riley County Invitational to take the championship. The Lady Chargers came out strong and took set one 25-18. In the second, Mission Valley bounced back and capitalized on some serving errors by JCN to win 25-16. The third set would be a close battle back and forth, but in the end, JCN picked up a huge victory, taking the third set 25-23.
Right after the victory over the Lady Vikings, Jefferson County North had to face the number one team in 2A in the Hillsboro Lady Trojans. The Lady Chargers came out and traded points with Hillsboro all throughout the match, but Hillsboro was just too strong as the Lady Trojans won 25-23 and 25-20.
In order for JCN to move on to bracket play, the squad had to beat number eight Meade. The Lady Chargers had no problems with the Lady Buffaloes, winning 25-18 and 25-15. JCN finished 2-1 in pool play, but came close to missing bracket play. Mission Valley needed to beat Hillsboro in three sets and the Lady Vikings took it to three, but lost 25-23.
Nonetheless, Jefferson County North moved on to face number three Bucklin the next day. The first set was all Lady Chargers as JCN won 25-21. In the second, Bucklin charged back and snuck out a 26-24 victory. Jefferson County North could sense a trip to the state championship and used that motivation to win the third set 25-21.
The rematch was set for the state championship as Hillsboro and Jefferson County North traded blows in the match, but the number one team wasn’t going to be denied of another state championship taking the game 25-19 and 25-17.
Jefferson County North finished with 37-10 record and a second place trophy. The Lady Chargers were undefeated Northeast Kansas League champions, recorded wins over 4A state qualifiers Clay Center, Frontenac and Jefferson West and finished second at the Riley County and Wamego Invitationals.
Individually, seniors Jacee Kramer and Jamie Navinskey were selected to the 2013 2A State All-Tournament Team. Though that’s a great honor, Coach Paula Cobb and those players will still tell you that the Lady Chargers’ success was a team effort.
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