Free State’s volleyball team pushed undefeated Olathe Northwest to five sets, but ultimately came up just short in a 3-2 loss Tuesday night in the Class 6A quarterfinals at Olathe Northwest.

The Firebirds (18-4) fell in the first set by a 25-16 margin before bouncing back with a 26-24 win in the second set. After dropping a 27-17 decision in the third set, FSHS responded with a 25-23 win to force a fifth set. The final set was a 16-14 win for the Ravens, who improved to 27-0 on their way to the Class 6A semifinals.

Garden City (20-13), Washburn Rural (32-4), Blue Valley West (22-7) and Olathe Northwest will finish up the Class 6A state tournament on Friday at Tony’s Pizza Events Center in Salina.

The Firebirds, who have now won back-to-back substate titles for the first time in program history, will not make it to the semifinals for the second year in a row.

Perry-Lecompton, the only other area team competing in state volleyball, also fell in the Class 3A quarterfinals. The Kaws lost all three sets (25-16, 25-17, 25-13) to Sabetha at home on Tuesday. PLHS ended the year with a 23-17 record and its first trip to the state tournament in 25 years.

Sabetha (36-1) will be one of four teams completing the Class 3A state tournament at Hutchinson Sports Arena on Saturday.