HAYS, Kan. – The La Crosse volleyball team has advanced to the semifinals of the 1A Division I state tournament at Gross Coliseum. The Leopards, who are making their second straight appearance at the state tournament, dropped their pool play opener to two-time defending state champion Centralia (16-25, 15-25) but came back to knock off unbeaten Hoxie (25-23, 25-18) and Thunder Ridge (25-16, 25-14).

The sixth-seeded Leopards will play top-seeded Goessel Saturday at 10 a.m. Centralia and Waverly will meet in the other semifinal match. The two winners meet for the state championship while the two losing teams play in the consolation match. Both will begin 15 minutes at the conclusion of the last semifinal match.