Santa Fe volleyball: Lady Chiefs stopped short of playoffs

Junior Molly Sander led the Lady Chiefs with 20 kills during the district tourney. (Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge]

CENTERVIEW -- The Santa Fe volleyball team was hoping to return to the MSHSAA Class 1 Championships this year, but it's not going to happen.

After getting to the Final Four in four of the previous five seasons, the Lady Chiefs were denied a post-season bid by I-70 Conference rival Concordia with Wednesday's 27-25, 25-19 loss in the District 13 championship match at Centerview.

Junior Molly Sander had 12 kills and two blocks and seniors Lauren Aversman and Cassie Prior for 26 digs against the Lady Orioles (19-9-3), who had lost two of three meetings earlier in the season -- including the last one, a three-set decision by the Lady Chiefs in league play Oct. 12.

Santa Fe reached the title match with a 25-20-25-22 semifinal victory over host Crest Ridge (14-14-2) behind Sander's eight spikes and 12 saves by sophomore Lindsey Pemberton.

The Lady Chiefs (14-11-7) are out of the playoffs for only the third time in 14 years. Worse, they'll have to watch as Concordia, in the post-season for the first time, competes on the Santa Fe court Saturday in the Section 4 Tournament.