Bison take fourth at home tourney, Chase charges into final

The McCook Bison had reasons to be happy as they matched points with 13-0 Southwest throughout Saturday's Bison Invitational semifinal. From left clockwise are senior Ashlyn Randel, sophomore Cali Crawford, juniors Karstyn Porter, Bailee Foster, Jaylea Walgren and senior Bailee Fawver (2).

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook was two points from knocking off unbeaten Southwest but the Bison volleyball team eventually finished fourth at Saturday's eight-team Bison Volleyball Invitational.

Coach Trevor Hoins saw his team (5-7 record overall) sweep Valentine, lose 2-1 to those 13-0 Roughriders then fall in two sets against Class B Gering.

"We played right with them (Gering) in the first set. It just wasn't there after that," he said about the 25-23, 25-7 final setback which determined third place. "But I have to be proud of the effort and we finished 4-3 on the week which is good."

Chase County senior Olivia Spady (right) gets the ball over Cambridge blockers during the Longhorns' comeback win to start Bison Invitational play Saturday morning at McCook Junior High School.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

Meanwhile, Chase County rallied past Cambridge and took down Gering to reach the Bison Invite title match against Southwest. The Longhorns are 7-3 overall despite Southwest's 2-0 win.

More will be featured in the Gazette on Tuesday.

A rundown of all the Bison Invitational final scores:

Decatur Community-Oberlin, Kan., junior Shelbi Wiegel (32), sophomore Maria Rodriguez (17), sophomore Ellie Larson (16) and junior Brylee Minnick (21) are all focused on defending Gering hitter Jacey Cochran (4) during their Bison Invitational first-round match on Saturday at McCook High School.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

First round

McCook over Valentine 25-18, 25-17

Southwest over Alliance 25-6, 25-8

Chase County over Cambridge 17-25, 25-21, 25-18

Gering over Decatur Community-Oberlin (Kan.) 25-18, 25-14

Semifinals

Southwest over McCook 22-25, 25-11, 25-23

Chase County over Gering 25-20, 25-21

Consolation semis

Cambridge over Decatur Community 25-22, 25-19

Alliance over Valentine 25-14, 25-21

Place matches

Seventh place: Decatur Community over Valentine 25-10, 25-17

Fifth place: Cambridge over Alliance 25-13, 25-18

Third place: Gering over McCook 25-23, 25-7

Championship

Southwest over Chase County 25-16, 25-23