'Riders, Trojans lead charge into McCook tournament

BARTLEY, Neb. — Now that’s the way to feast on 38 great assists.

Junior Caylin Barnett clobbered 21 kills, classmate Bailey Truksa blasted another 17 as they equally dividedthose 38 assits from setter Bryn Lampe during a Southwest win over Wauneta-Palisade Tuesday night.

Avery McConville crushed another two deadly shots in a well-earned 26-24, 19-25, 25-21, 25-16 over those always tough Broncos.

Delaney Critchfield delivered 16 digs with another 19 from Bailey Truksa while raising those Roughriders’ record to 7-2 overall.

Coach Kim Barnett’s team withstood the Broncos, who slipped to 6-5 this season.

More about Wauneta-Palisade will be featured in upcoming editions.

The Roughriders are one of those dangerous teams entering Saturday’s Bison Invitational.

They almost reached the title match last fall before host McCook rallied. The Bison went on to knock off Cambridge and win their own tourney.

Falcons win at MV

The Hitchcock County Falcons showed their toughness with a 3-1 win over host Medicine Valley Thursday evening.

Senior Aimee Merrill stepped up to drill 13 kills in a 25-17, 25-20, 20-25, 25-15 triumph.

Sophomore Madison Gestenslager knocked down five more with 13 even distributed among senior Riley Bortner (four), seniors Kailee Kolbet, Lindsey Rippen and sophomore Katie Jarecke (three each).

Merrill added three stuff blocks for the 7-6 Falcons.

Southern Valley delivered another win Thursday night with a 25-22, 25-11 sweep of Arapahoe.

The Eagles (8-4) did fall short in three sets to Bertrand as part of an Arapahoe Triangular.

Bertrand also beat Arapahoe in three sets.

No individual stats were obtained.

Longhorns win

The Chase County girls are 6-2 as junior Bryn McNair blasted 21 kills and Giselle Acuna 13 during a five-set win over Sedgwick County (Colo.) Tuesday night.

The Longhorns won a wild 26-24 opener and 25-21 before previously unbeaten Sedgwick (7-1) dominated those next two sets.

McNair also made 18 digs and the Longhorns took that dramatic fifth set finale, 15-10.

Junior Elizabeth Reeves served two of five Chase aces.

Trojans 6-2

Cambridge will be a strong contender at Saturday’s Bison Invite after playing for the title last fall.

The Trojans’ most recent win was a sweep of Ovverton where sophomore Jalen Kent crushed 10 kills. Senior Autumn Deterding, junior Jacey Kent and freshman Erin Johnson crushed eight apiece.

Setter Breelle Miller delivered 33 assists.