Just a few points made the difference between the Free State High volleyball team advancing to Saturday’s Class 6A state semifinals and going home on Friday from the state tourney in Salina.

Seventh-seeded Free State finished the day 1-2 in pool play and came up short of advancing to the final rounds.

In the opening match of the day, Free State knocked off No. 2 seed Wichita Northwest 25-20 and 26-24. The Firebirds then lost to No. 3 Mill Valley in their second match of the day by the same scores they won by, 26-24 and 25-20.

That set up a do-or-die battle with defending state champ Blue Valley North, the No. 6 seed, in the final match and BVN came out on top, 25-23, 25-22.

The losses ended the Firebirds’ season at 26-14 overall.

“(It was) a battle for everything from the opening whistle on,” FSHS coach Jayme Savage wrote on Twitter after pool play ended. “This group represented our school and the Lawrence community with grit and grace. Could not be more proud!”