The Alliance St. Agnes volleyball team had a very successful week with the Crusaders winning 4 matches. On Tuesday the Crusaders played host to the Sioux County Warriors then competed in the Panhandle Conference tournament in Hemingford. St. Agnes won both contests against Sioux County and all three contest in Hemingford to repeat as Champs!
In Tuesday’s match up vs Harrison the Crusaders pulled away late and won the first set 25 to 8. Alliance got big contributions from 8th graders Kaitlyn Shannon and Amora Gonzalez to take the early lead. Up 6 to 3 the Crusaders received ace spikes by 7th graders Reese Armstrong and Maslin Breen to build the early advantage. Five Breen kills put St. Agnes ahead for good at 15 to 5. Solid net play by Hannah Benzel, Shannon, and Breen finished off the set with St. Agnes winning 25 to 8.
Benzel and Dawsyn Higgins were sharp in the opening minutes of set 2. Back to back ace spikes by Benzel and a kill by Higgins helped the Crusaders storm to a 10 to 2 lead. Points and kills by Armstrong, Shannon, Breen, and Aubree Shrewsbury put the Crusaders ahead 18 to 6. Eighth grader Peyton Baker scored the games next 6 points and the game ended with a point by Alliance’s Stella Beck. Set 2 went to the Crusaders 25 to 7
SC 8 7
SA 25 25
Shrewsbury and Aubrey Dudden help the SA junior varsity squad race to an early advantage in the opening set of the day’s second contest. A kill by Baker and an ace serve by Delaney Jelinek gave SA the lead at 8 to 5. Tied at 11 the momentum would go the Crusaders with key points and kills from Beck, Dudden, and Shrewsbury. More points by Baker were enough as SA won set one 25 to 20.
It was all St. Agnes in set 2. Solid plays again by Beck, Dudden, Baker, and Jelinek propelled the Crusaders to a big lead at 16 to 4. The game came to a close with kills by Shrewsbury and Dudden. Final in set 2 St. Agnes 25 Sioux County 15
SC 20 15
SA 25 25
On Saturday, eight teams competed in Hemingford for the Pan Handle Conference crown. The Crusaders began their quest by downing the Moguls of Edgemont. In the semi final match SA defeated Hay Spring to set up a championship game with the Lions of Morrill. The Crusaders were up for the challenge, downing the Lions 25 to 10 in set one. St. Agnes continued their fine play in set 2. Alliance roared to an early 16 to 8 and went to the title for the second year in a row.
St. Agnes travels to Crawford on Tuesday then hits the road to Morrill on Thursday. On Saturday the Crusaders will play in a tournament in Hemingford.