After a taste of the State tournament last year and the fact that basically the entire team returned the Axtell Eagles volleyball team set their sights on a return trip to Hays for the Class 1A-Division II State tournament and on Saturday they accomplished that feat. 

Axtell had an opening round bye as the one seed at the Sub-State in which they hosted and in the Semifinals squared off against Wetmore who beat St. Xavier in the opening round. The Eagles won the battle of the birds in straight sets, claiming the win 25-7, 25-15 to move one win away from a Sub-State title and trip to State. 

In the Championship the Eagles squared off with Linn had they kept the Bulldogs in check earning the straight set win 25-19, 25-17 to win the Sub-State championship and punch their ticket to the State tournament. 

The Eagles head into the State tournament ranked second in the latest KVA 1A-DII rankings and with a 29-9 record and will look to improve upon their third place performance from last year. Axtell made the trip to State last year for the first time since 2005 and finished 4-1 at State taking third place. 

For the second straight year Axtell will hit the court in Hays at Fort Hays State University and they will get the 1A-DII State tournament underway on Friday, October 30th. (All matches will be broadcasted on 92.1 KMZA and mscsports.net)