Greyhounds sweep Hesston in home finale

Fort Scott’s Brittany Barnekoff gets a kill off this tip at the net during the third set of play at Arnold Arena Wednesday night. It was one of four kills for Barnekoff in the Greyhounds’ sweep of visiting Hesston.

Scott Nuzum/Tribune

Fort Scott Community College’s volleyball team celebrated Sophomore Night in grand fashion at Arnold Arena Wednesday night, sweeping Hesston in a Region VI-Division II match, 25-21, 25-10, 25-13. It was the Greyhounds’ final home match of the season.

While not a conference match, the Greyhounds did improve their playoff positioning a bit as the win puts them at 3-5 in Region VI play (24-9 overall). Hesston, a Region VI independent, fell to 2-6 in the region (10-14 overall) and is tied for eighth with Independence and Labette.

Perhaps inspired by the need to improve its own playoff position, Hesston gave the ’Hounds a fight in the first set as both sides had trouble getting in a roll. The Larks were within 19-18 but made a key error to give a point and the serve back to the ’Hounds, who then got a kill from Kayln Beel.

Hesston edged closer again, getting with 21-20. But Beel got another kill. Then Megan Turner blocked a Hesston attack to extend the lead to 3 points. But the Larks got a kill and regained serve, only to give it back when its setter was called for double-contact with the ball.

Brittany Barnekoff then blocked the ball back to Hesston’s side, where it hit the floor for the final point.

Fort Scott had long scoring runs in the second and third sets. They scored 7 straight in the second set to extend a 6-point lead to 18-5.

The ’Hounds also scored 5 of the last 6 points with Turner ending the match on a kill.

Hesston scored the first point of the third set. But a kill by Deardin Kelley — who was bringing unreturnable attacks all night long — got Fort Scott started on a 9-point run.

The ’Hounds led 22-8 before Hesston got on track. But Turner’s kill at 24-14 brought an end to the proceedings.

Turner and Grace Graniewski each had 10 kills for Fort Scott. Hanna White handed out 22 assists and Annalise Whitcomb delivered 15. Katie Gorman, a Fort Scott High grad playing her last home match, came up with 31 digs while Turner had 15 and Kelley had 11.

The Greyhounds play at Allen in Jayhawk Conference-Eastern Division play Wednesday night. The winless Red Devils (0-7, 0-33) haven’t won a set since September 8. They have lost 40 consecutive matches going back to last season and 53 of their last 55.

NOTES — The FSCC sophomores playing their final home match were Gorman, Turner, Kelley, Beel, White and Mariah Aebersold....

The ’Hounds also play at Kansas City Kansas to close out the regular season on October 30. The Blue Devils are tied for fifth in the region with Neosho County at 4-4 (12-9) overall. KCK plays at Neosho County (24-11) Wednesday....