THS opened its match with Emporia with a 25-17 win in the first set, but lost the next two sets 25-23 and 25-23.

Tonganoxie bounced back and swept Baldwin, 25-14, 25-19. THS moved to 10-4 overall and 0-1 in Frontier League play. The match against BHS counted as non conference because only best-of-5 matches count toward league play. The two teams will play that match later in the season.

Tonganoxie had chances to put Emporia away, but couldn’t defeat the Spartans.

“We got another wake-up call with Emporia,” THS coach Kyle South said.

Tonganoxie actually was up, 23-21, in Set 2, but EHS roared back at the end.

“Emporia did a good job at the end of the set,” South said.

THS outscored Emporia over the three sets, but “that’s not how volleyball works unfortunately,” South said.

Tonganoxie was able to come back with a strong showing against Baldwin and get the sweep.

“They did a really good job responding to Baldwin,” South said.

The Chieftains were back on the court Monday at Manhattan against MHS and Mill Valley. South said after last week’s matches that those matches would be “a big test.”

THS certainly got some more experience against tough competition. Mill Valley was ranked No. 4 and Manhattan was No. 8 in the latest Kansas Volleyball Association coaches poll for Class 6A.

Tonganoxie (10-6 overall and 0-1 in Frontier League play) dropped both matches in 2-0 sets Monday, but was back in action Tuesday in a Frontier League match against Ottawa (5-9 and 1-2). Thursday they have Leavenworth and Pleasant Ridge at Leavenworth starting at 5 p.m. And on Saturday, THS will host the Tonganoxie Invitational starting at 8 a.m. at Chieftain Arena.