St. James Academy captures second straight Kansas 4A volleyball title

SALINA, Kan. | The moment the final whistle blew Saturday at the Bicentennial Center, St. James Academy coach Nancy Dorsey put down the stack of notes she had held the entire match.

Embracing her assistant coaches, Dorsey let out a sigh of relief as St. James overcame a one-game deficit and beat Topeka Hayden 20-25, 25-19, 25-20 for its second consecutive Kansas 4A championship.

“This one felt pretty darn good,” Dorsey said. “We worked so hard all season and the dividends pay off when it ends this way.

“A win is a win and a championship is a championship, regardless of who is on your team. I am just happy for the girls because I know they really wanted it.”

St. James got off to a slow start as Hayden’s front line dominated at the net and took a 15-9 lead in the first game.

“I told them they were being outplayed,” Dorsey said. “We were not very good defensively that first game at all.

“We just decided after that first game that we were not going to go down like that. They really picked up their spirits and made it happen.”

After St. James won the second game, both teams exchanged points to begin the third game. Tied at 11-11, St. James rallied for six straight points thanks to the help of junior Morgan Voorhes. Hayden coach Jesica Farmer-Walter said the Thunder’s intensity was the difference.

“St. James is a good team,” Farmer-Walter said. “It seems like we put so much emotion into that first game and second and third, St. James came out strong and we tried to compete, but we just came up short.”

submitted by BRETT REGAN - 2009-10-31 21:54:03

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