Kristin Vieselmeyer preps for a pass, with back-up from libero Tamara Penzing. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications
Just minutes away from winning the regional title, Elyce Talavera can’t keep the smile off her face as she serves the ball. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications
Elise Krogmeier goes up for an attack during Friday’s regional tournament in Holyoke. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications
Audrey Talavera is at the net for a spike, helping her team to two wins over Heritage Christian and Addenbrooke Classical Academy in Friday’s regional games. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications
Girls are statebound — again!
It’s only been six months since the Lady Dragon volleyball team stepped foot on the state tournament court in Colorado Springs, but back-to-back regional championships gave them the right to compete there again this week.
In the historic 2020-21 school year, fall volleyball was bumped to the spring due to COVID-19 restrictions, and the Lady Dragons made history when they qualified for the state tournament for the first time in 20 years.
Holyoke has done it again after winning the Region 6 tournament at home last Friday, Nov. 5, with wins over Heritage Christian and Addenbrooke Classical Academy.
Out of the 12 regional champs, No. 21-seeded Akron was the only team to win by upset, defeating No. 4 Dayspring Christian Academy in five sets.
Therefore, a majority of the state qualifying teams were seeded one spot higher for state than they were for regionals. Holyoke, which was the No. 6 seed at regionals, was bumped up to the No. 5 seed for state.
The Lady Dragons will face No. 12 Akron this Thursday, Nov. 11, at 9:30 a.m. at the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs.
The winner of that game will play No. 4 Soroco at 3:30 p.m. Thursday.
Coach Michelle Vieselmeyer is looking forward to the Akron game, which will be the third time the two teams have played each other this season. Holyoke won the other two games in straight sets.
However, Holyoke’s No. 5 seed put them on the same side of the bracket as No. 1 Sedgwick County, last season’s state runner-up and a league rival that Holyoke lost to a couple of weeks ago in the regular season.
The good thing about this three-day, 12-team state tournament is that it’s double elimination, a change from the spring’s eight-team single elimination tournament that capped a shortened season due to the pandemic.
Vieselmeyer said that qualifying for state this season has been a “totally different feeling” than it was in May.
The team’s goal is to make it to the championship game, which will be played Saturday, Nov. 13, at 6 p.m.
As of press time, there were no restrictions set for fan attendance at the state tournament.
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