The last five years, Tonganoxie High has finished its season one step from the state tournament. Each year, Tonganoxie lost in the substate tournament championship — in 2001, 2002 and 2003 to Lansing and in 2004 and 2005 to Eudora.

Since 2004, Lansing has competed in Class 5A, so they no longer battle THS in the postseason.

Eudora, meanwhile, has advanced to state the past two years at Tonganoxie’s expense.

But Eudora — which the Chieftains have defeated twice this year at their home tourney and at the De Soto Spikefest, — will play in a different substate, in Spring Hill.

Tonganoxie will compete Saturday in the Holton substate, most likely as the No. 2 seed. At 28-7, the Chieftains should be behind host Holton, which is 18-4 on the year. Although substate pairings haven’t been announced, it appears THS will take on Royal Valley (4-17) in the quarterfinals. With a win, Tonganoxie probably would face Atchison (12-11) or Jeff West (6-13). Other teams in the substate are Basehor-Linwood (8-10), Hiawatha (8-14) and Perry-Lecompton (3-12).

Tonganoxie has already met three teams this year and won against each of them — KVL foes Perry-Lecompton and Basehor-Linwood and Holton.

The tournament, which will be played on one court, will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at Holton High School.

Tonganoxie concluded the regular season with Senior Night on Tuesday in Tonganoxie against Blue Valley West, Lawrence-Free State and Topeka High. Results from those matches, along with official substate pairings, can be found on The Mirror’s Web site, www.tonganoxiemirror.com, later this week.

Area leaders

Eudora and Tonganoxie are dominating area volleyball statistical categories. No other area schools are in the top four in four categories: kills, assists, aces and blocks, according to the Lawrence Journal-World.

For Tonganoxie, Ali Pistora is No. 3 and Sami Franiuk No. 4 in kills with 234 and 201 respectively.

In assists, Rachel Bogard has the No. 3 spot with 296, while Chrissie Jeannin is No. 4 with 182.

Franiuk leads the aces race with 61, while Pistora is second with 43.

And in blocks, Pistora leads the area with 117, Shannon Carlin is second with 70 and Tracie Hileman fourth with 50.

Substate team records

Holton 18-4

Tonganoxie 28-7

Atchison 12-11

Basehor-Linwood 8-10

Hiawatha 8-14

Jeff West 6-13

Royal Valley 4-17

Perry-Lecompton 3-12