October 10, 2026
Craig Null
CHETOPA - After suffering a heartbreaking loss that prevented an opportunity to play for the championship, the Altoona-Midway Middle School Lady Jets bounced back in fine fashion to claim third-place the the Lower Bracket of the Mineral Belt League Volleyball Tournament held here Saturday.
In a thrilling semifinal match, the Chetopa Hornets squeezed past AMMS in a three-set nail-biter, 25-10, 17-25, 15-10. The Lady Jets regrouped and rolled past Elk Valley 25-11, 25-7 to finish with third-place honors in MBL postseason play.
The young Altoona-Midway spikers closed out the season with a 3-13 overall record, but showed steady improvement as the season progressed. There were no eighth graders on the Lady Jet roster, which included four seventh graders, a pair of sixth graders, and four fifth graders.
“I was super proud of all of the girls, and really happy they got to end the season on a high note,” said AMMS head coach Lacy Wheeler. “We’ve come so far from where we started this season. I can’t wait for next year to get here.”
AMMS vs. Chetopa
In their final home match just five days earlier, Altoona-Midway defeated Chetopa in straight sets. But the home-court proved to be just enough advantage to turn the tables, as this time the Hornets escaped with a dramatic three-set victory, 25-10, 17-25, 15-10.
“We got off to a slow start. We looked tired,” said Wheeler. “We had more service errors as a team that first set than we had all season.
“But we kept our heads up, and in the second set the girls looked more how they usually do. They made good choices and played hard,” Wheeler noted. “The third set was very close with a lot of switches on who was ahead. We trailed just 10-9 and Chetopa was able to get three points in a row. We did get one side out, but couldn’t keep up the momentum. They got a side out and scored the last points.”
Ainsley Wheeler finished the match with 15 points and eight aces, with a dozen points and all of the aces coming in the second set. Emily Lockhart chipped in with eight points, one ace and seven digs, while Emma Kinzle tallied seven points, six digs and a pair of aces.
Makayla Mustain led the Lady Jets with 16 digs, and along with McKenna Matlock registered six points apiece. Matlock added an ace and three digs. Teryn Ellsworth recorded three points and three digs, and Daisy Dalton added a dig. Wheeler also notched two hits and a kill.
AMMS vs. Elk Valley
Despite the disappointing semifinal loss, the Lady Jets showed a lot of grit and determination, bouncing back in the third place match to take the measure of Elk Valley in straight sets, 25-11, 25-7.
“I was very proud of the girls in the way they bounced back,” Wheeler said. “The girls played great ball. We had good strong serves, talked well, and really moved to go for the ball. They stayed ready every point and played until the whistle blew.”
The Lady Jets featured a “super server” in each set of the victory. Mustain got things going with nine points and four aces in the opening set, and Wheeler followed that with another outstanding service game in the second set, ripping off 15 points on 13 aces.
For the match, Wheeler had 20 points and 15 aces, Mustain laced 11 points and four aces, Lockhart totaled six points (1 ace), Matlock (3 aces) and Ellsworth (1 ace) notched five points each and Kinzle finished with two.
Mustain again led AMHS in digs with 10, while Matlock added four and Wheeler and Kinzle three apiece. Lockhart and Mustain each recorded a save.
“This team has a great future,” Coach Wheeler said. “Ainsley is becoming something formidable up at the net. Makayla is starting to get her timing down for hitting and blocking. Emily has the most improved serve from last year, and her confidence has grown so much. McKenna really stepped to become a setter this year and really go after that ball. Emma’s serving will be something to fear next year. Teryn is just starting to learn setting, and will hopefully get to do more of that next year. Daisy has stepped up and helped out in the a games a few times and has great potential to be a libero next year.
“All of the fifth graders came along today, and they were the best cheerleaders for their teammates,” Wheeler added. “Nickee (Rayann) has really started to go after the ball and built her confidence. Lakyn (Faller) is talking about wanting to learn to be a setter. And Kira (Adams) is making steady progress, and is one of the best uplifters for everyone else. I really loved getting to coach them all.”