Erin Kracl is starting to make a name for herself, and so is Eudora High's volleyball team.
"At the beginning of the season, I think I was seen as Lauren's little sister," said Kracl, who played in the shadow of her older sister as a freshman in 2003. "Toward the end of the season, I think I made a name for myself. Hopefully, I did."
After leading the Cardinals' volleyball team to a 28-5 record last fall, Lauren Kracl moved on to Missouri Western. Anyone expecting Eudora take a step back this fall was in for a surprise. The Cards advanced to the state tournament for the first time since 1991 and finished 35-7.
The younger Kracl led the way, earning All-Frontier League and all-state-tournament honors. Kracl, a 5-foot-9 middle hitter, finished her sophomore season with 434 kills.
"We proved it's not all about one person," Kracl said, "and it's really a team sport."
Junior setter Kelsey Epperson was another all-league pick for Eudora, with 810 assists, and 5-9 middle Nikki Snider was an honorable-mention selection after notching 226 kills.
"Kelsey's been running the show the last three years," said Eudora's Jill Stutler, the Journal-World's All-Area Coach of the Year. "We get Erin and Nikki back in the middle, and Carrie Lister is back on the right side. We have a great group of kids coming back."
Kracl and Epperson were named to the Journal World All-Area team along with Tonganoxie's Addie Heim and Ali Pistora, Santa Fe Trail's Alexis Pryor and Ottawa's Sadye Mages.
The Cards have improved every year under Stutler. After an 11-21 season in 2001, Eudora was 19-14 in 2002 and 28-5 last season.
Kelsey Epperson, Eudora, 5-4, jr., setter; Addie Heim, Tonganoxie, 5-10, sr., outside hitter; Erin Kracl, Eudora, 5-9, soph., middle hitter; Sadye Mages, Ottawa, 5-6, sr., hitter; Ali Pistora, Tonganoxie, 6-0, soph., middle hitter; Alexis Pryor, Santa Fe Trail, 6-0, sr., outside hitter.<br> <br> <b>Honorable mention:</b> Kelsey Heckahorne, Baldwin; Jara Vance, Ottawa; Jesutomi Ojeleye, Ottawa; Kendra Corley, Mill Valley; Megan Nieman, Mill Valley; Ali King, Oskaloosa; Krystle Barthol, Wellsville; Emily Nitzsche, McLouth.
"She means everything to our team," Epperson said. "She knows so much about the game. She gets after us every day at practice. You couldn't ask for a more perfect coach."
Eudora didn't have a perfect season. The Cardinals were stung by injuries to senior outside hitter Brooke Bell and Lister, a junior right-side hitter, at midseason. Sophomore Paige Schultz and Jessi Stewart were pressed into duty.
"They never gave up," Stutler said of her team. "We had to battle through things. There were things that didn't go our way, but they never gave up and believed they could fulfill their goals.
"We maintained where we were until everybody got healthy. At sub-state, they played the best they have since I started here."
Eudora had lost to Tonganoxie in the sub-state semifinals in 2003 and again in the semifinals of Tongie's tournament this season. In the sub-state final Oct. 23 at Eudora, Eudora dealt the Chieftains a 25-21, 19-25, 25-20 loss.
"They had beat us two in a row," Epperson said. "Beating them in sub-state was one of the highlights of my volleyball career. It was huge."
The Cards were starting to see themselves in a new light, and so was the opposition.
"From my freshman year to this year, it's hard to even compare," Epperson said. "Our team has changed so much. Our approach to how we walk into gyms ... we used to look up to teams like Baldwin and Gardner. Now we're one of the teams that other people look up to. We've made a name for ourselves."
Eudora went 2-1 in pool play at the Class 4A state tournament at Salina, but that wasn't good enough for the No. 2 seed to advance to the semifinals.
"That's going to haunt us until next year, just like when we lost to Tonganoxie in sub-state my sophomore year," Epperson said. "That will motivate us for next year."
Eudora loses just two seniors, Bell and outside hitter Kayla Moyer.
Here's a look at the rest of the All-Area team:
Addie Heim,
Tonganoxie senior
The 5-foot-10 outside hitter is receiving interest from Division Two, junior and NAIA colleges after recording 274 kills, 57 blocks and 14 aces. First, the All-Kaw Valley League selection will have to decide between volleyball and basketball.
"She's been a vital part of our program for three years," said Tonganoxie coach Brandon Parker, whose team finished 29-9. "She's a good all-around player who's improved each year. She's been a steady force on the outside, especially the last two years."
Ali Pistora,
Tonganoxie sophomore
The 6-foot middle blocker had 209 kills, 106 blocks and 37 aces for the Chieftains and was an All-Kaw Valley pick.
"Ali's improved tremendously in a year," Parker said. "She's emerging as one of the top players in this area and even in the state."
Sadye Mages, Ottawa senior
The 5-6 All-Frontier League hitter had 189 kills. She also had a 99.7 serving percentage and 41 aces. Ottawa finished 30-9.
"She's a great mentor for the younger kids to look up to," Ottawa coach Jodi Grover said. "She's a great role model because of her work ethic. She's not a very big girl, but with a 30-inch vertical she can get up there. She's an inspiration to our kids."
Alexis Pryor,
Santa Fe Trail senior
The 6-foot outside hitter, who was an All-Kaw Valley League selection, has signed a letter of intent to play volleyball and softball for Baker.
"She was our best player all year," said SFT coach Tracy Dunnaway, whose team finished 21-12. "She was our leader. This year she really stepped up and took on a leadership role. She was a go-to hitter for us, a primary passer and key blocker. Not only was she valuable on the court, she was valuable outside of volleyball. She's a kid that's a great role model. She's successful at everything she does."
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