Emporia ? Free State’s volleyball team went 5-1, including a victory over Lawrence High, and finished second in the Emporia Invitational on Saturday, while LHS went 2-4.

The Firebirds defeated the Lions, 25-23, 25-20, in the opening match of the day, and lost to Washburn Rural, 25-15, 25-18, in the championship match. In between, FSHS defeated Junction City, 25-18, 14-25, 25-16, Emporia, 25-14, 25-14, Shawnee Heights, 17-25, 25-20, 25-21, and Maize in the semifinals, 25-22, 25-18.

“We avenged a couple of losses (against Junction City and Shawnee Heights), and that was nice,” FSHS coach Nancy Hopkins said. “We just played much more consistently than we have the past couple of matches.”

Hopkins cited the offensive play of Shelby Holmes and the defensive play of Kylie Dever.

After their loss to FSHS, the Lions defeated Emporia, 25-17, 25-10, and Pittsburg, 25-15, 25-20, and lost to Shawnee Heights, 25-23, 25-12, Junction City, 25-20, 15-25, 25-18, and Topeka Seaman, 25-23, 25-14.

“We competed with every team we went up against,” LHS coach Stephanie Magnuson said. “We need one more week of work before sub-state. We played hard all day.”

The LHS leaders included Monica Howard with 42 kills and 24 digs, Caitlin Broadwell with 41 kills and 33 digs, Caroline Dykes with 18 kills, Brianna Anderson with 17 kills, Alexis Mountain with 55 assists and 22 digs, Brea May with 57 assists and Zoe Reed with 62 digs.

Free State (24-10) will play a triangular Tuesday at Topeka High that also will include Topeka West.

Lawrence High (16-15) will play host to St. James and Blue Valley North at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

FSHS will entertain LHS in a dual on Thursday.