By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
After a grueling season full of ups and downs, the Southeast of Saline volleyball team will hit the road for sub-state on Saturday, looking to punch their first ticket to state in over five years.
The Lady Trojans have gone toe to toe with some of the best teams in the state this season, emerging victorious with upset wins over ranked opponents like #1 Little River (1A), #3 Ellinwood (2A), #3 Hanover (1A), and #3 Beloit (3A).
SES has done all of this with a mix of newcomers and veterans alike, who have banded together and proven themselves capable of taking on any challenge laid out before them.
“I’ve seen a lot of growth in how well our girls work together,” Lady Trojan head coach Ashley Gilpin said. “We’ve gotten a lot better at handling out-of-system balls and we’re accepting that different people on the team can do different jobs which allows us to get into positions to make more plays.”
While Southeast has developed an affinity for playing up to their competition, that needle has at times swung in the opposite direction, something SES will need to be wary of as the three-seed in this year's sub-state bracket.
“At times I would say our strength has been grit,” Gilpin said. “We’ve pulled out some incredible matches against some big ranked teams but we’ve struggled with complacency against teams we should handle. I think we’re on the up with that and we’re hoping our peak has yet to come.”
The Lady Trojans (21-13) will begin bracket play in Lindsborg against Nickerson (15-22) 20 minutes after the conclusion of a 2:00 match between Council Grove (24-12) and Lyons (14-21).
Those winners will advance to face one another in the sub-state semis on Saturday, with whoever makes the final likely staring down Smoky Valley (29-8), Hoisington (22-14) or Hesston (21-14).
While Southeast hasn’t always been at the top of their game down the stretch, the Lady Trojans have grown through that adversity and will be ready to prove themselves in the gauntlet of the postseason this weekend.
“Physically I know the girls have it in them to go toe to toe with anyone and we’ve seen that this year,” Gilpin said. “These girls absolutely should believe that they can win because they’re capable of taking on anybody.”
For continuing coverage of Lady Trojan volleyball at sub-state stay tuned to the Salina Post.