Southwest girls now 9-0 with sweeps at So. Valley

STAMFORD, Neb. — Southwest’s Roughriders roared into Southern Valley to take down both Eagles and sink Sailors during Thursday’s volleyball triangular.

Coach Kim Barnett’s girls reached 9-0 starting first with a 25-8, 25-11 victory over Sutherland Sailors.

Nelms have become a powerful norm for anyone facing Southwest as Kyra Nelms slugged 10 kills, Atleigh Nelms eight and Anikka Nelms six.

Kyra further controlled the net by making four stuff blocks.

Aspen Billeter continued to be one of the fall’s best freshman varsity athletes. She sent out 24 more assists, clubbed four kills, served three aces, made five digs and even added two stuff blocks.

Senior libero Allison VanPelt’s nine digs were another decisive factor while senior Payton Truksa hustled to four and two more kills.

The real ‘Rider challenge arrived against 5-1 Southern Valley, but Southwest prevailed in two sets again 25-15, 25-22.

Leaders in this triangular finale:

Kyra Nelms 11 kills, 1 blocks, 4 digs;

Anikka Nelms 5 kills, 6 blocks;

Atleigh Nelms 7 kills, 5 digs;

Payton Truksa 2 kills, 3 digs, 1 ace serve;

Anastasia Gallegos 3 kill, 9 digs, 1 ace;

Allison VanPelt 6 digs, 1 ace.

The Roughriders aim to keep on rolling ahead with McCook’s annual Bison Invitational set for Saturday, Sept. 20.

Wolves win again

MAYWOOD, Neb. — The Maywood-Hayes Center girls are now 6-2 following a thrilling five-set win over Maxwell on Thursday.

May-Hay has won three tough matches this week already with tough 2-1 decisions over Loomis and Arapahoe on Tuesday in Arapahoe.

Eagles win state

finals rematch

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — The defending D-1 state champ Overton Eagles took Thursday’s rematch over finalist Cambridge 25-21, 25-11, 25-11.

Both teams are replacing some strong 2023 talent, yet the Cambridge girls still own a winning 6-5 record this season.

Sophomore Brooklyn Holtze’s seven kills powered the Trojans Thursday with classmate/sister Joslyn Holtze hitting five. Senior Erin Johnson drilled three more kills.

Junior Mallory Springer delivered 16 digs and 14 assists.

Brooklyn’s 15 digs topped the Trojans followed by sophomore Elizabeth Kubik (13), Joslyn (13) and junior Chloe Gooden (10).

Overton improved to 8-1 on the season.

Warriors swept

BRADY, Neb. — The Arapahoe Warriors slipped to 3-4 with Brady winning 25-17, 25-17, 25-23 Thursday evening.

Sophomore Desi Farner still crushed eight kills for Arapahoe while junior Emma Strand filtered seven lethal shots past Brady Eagles.

Sophomore Clara Hilker hammered another six kills.

Farner also hustled for 18 digs, senior Rylee Bahe 14 and sophomore Grace Andrews 13.

Bahe totaled 12 assists.

Editor’s note: No results were obtained for Wauneta-Palisade, Medicine Valley, Dundy County-Stratton or Rawlins County (Kan.) volleyball Thursday night.

Watch for more in the Gazette next week.