Overland Park ? Free State High’s volleyball team went 2-2 Saturday at the Johnson County Community College Invitational.

The Firebirds opened with a 20-25, 16-25 loss to Shawnee Mission East, then dropped a tough match to Park Hill (Mo.), 25-22, 13-25, 7-15.

The Firebirds won their next two matches, beating Blue Springs (Mo.), 25-23, 25-22, and bouncing Blue Valley West, 25-21, 25-21.

Jenny Heppert was cited for excellent play at middle blocker.

“We had good defensive coverage by the whole team,” FSHS coach Nancy Hopkins said. “It was our first outing, and we struggled early trying to find a lineup that worked. It was good we came back to regroup.

“There were some tough teams there,” she added. ‘Even Aquinas didn’t make it out of pool play.”

Free State will travel Thursday to Leavenworth.