Lady Cats focused on postseason after difficult week

Louisburg sophomore Hailey Sword (right) gets a block during a match earlier this season. The Lady Cats enter their most important week as sub-state begins Saturday.

The Louisburg volleyball team faced its toughest competition of the season this past week.

If that wasn’t difficult enough, the Lady Cats had to it with half of their normal starting lineup on the bench.

Louisburg senior starters Chase Kallevig, Davis Guetterman and Corinna McMullen were all out with injuries as the Lady Cats went up against five Class 5A or bigger programs. Louisburg also ventured to Wamego for a triangular.

It wasn’t a good recipe for success as they lost all six matches to Blue Valley, Basehor-Linwood, Blue Valley North, Mill Valley, Olathe North and Wamego.

“We had some stiff competition last week,” Louisburg coach Leanna Willer said. “We faced the No. 1, No. 6 and No. 7 teams in 6A in the East, as well as the No. 6 team in 5A in the East. Wamego is also a very strong 4A team. I was proud of how our girls came into every match positive and ready to focus on our side of the court, getting better each time. We emphasized our effort, communication, and teamwork as things we always wanted to be top-notch, and really focusing on the things we can control.”

Since Louisburg’s starting setters, Guetterman and McMullen, were both out with an injury, Willer pulled up junior varsity setter Megan Quinn to help run the team. Quinn finished the week with 61 assists in her first varsity action. 

Outside hitter Claire Brown also took a big step forward for the Lady Cats and played all six rotations. Brown led Louisburg with 28 kills and 37 digs.

“We saw many girls step up and rise to the occasion last week,” Willer said. “I can’t imagine being put in a much tougher position than Megan Quinn having to come in and set at the varsity level for the first time with that schedule all week, but she handled the pressure very well. 

“We saw our defense step up and make some really awesome plays against some very powerful hitters. I thought that Claire Brown played well as she has become our go-to attacker, and our middles both worked hard to get as many touches on the block as they could.”

Sophomore Hailey Sword had 18 kills and 32 digs. Junior middle Adyson Ross had a team-high six aces and five blocks during that stretch. 

Senior Aubryn Berck had 27 digs and three aces and junior middle Emma Prettyman had 11 kills and five blocks.

The Lady Cats will now focus on their most important week of the season that begins Saturday when they travel to Baldwin for the sub-state tournament.

Before then, Louisburg will travel to Piper today for its final league dual of the season. Still, the Lady Cats hope to take the court with their full roster of players.

“We are very excited for sub-state,” Willer said. “Of course we are focused on taking care of business at Piper, but then we can definitely shift our focus to Saturday. Senior Chase Kallevig will be back in the rotation, and we are looking to ease Davis and Corinna back in as well. As seniors, they are dying to play and want our team to be as close to full strength as possible for the postseason. We are hoping that the rest last week gave their bodies some time to recover and to be able to play this week.”