WILSON --- The Lady Dragons of Wilson will advance to the 1A Division I State Volleyball tournament after defeating Northern Plains rival St. John’s Tipton/Beloit in three games for the sub-state championship Saturday in Wilson.

The Lady Blujays handed Wilson three of their five defeats in regular season play, but the Lady Dragons played a smart game of volleyball in the second game to force the tie-breaker.

They pulled ahead by four points late in the third game and held on for the 25-23 win.

It was only the third time this season that the Lady Dragons competed at the Dragon Den.

GYPSUM --- The Lady Bearcats of Ellsworth were defeated in three games by their arch-rivals, the Lady Knights of Sacred Heart in the 3A sub-state tournament at Southeast of Saline.

The Lady ‘Cats came back from a huge deficit in the first game, but lost. Ellsworth was in command of the second game to force the tie-breaker.

The final game the best game of volleyball witnessed this season, if not for many seasons. It was a 1-point ballgame the entire match, until the fateful 25-23 score that dashed the Lady ‘Cats’ dreams of a run at the state tournament.

NCAA League champions Southeast of Saline won the tournament, defeating Sacred Heart in the finals.

LINCOLN --- Third-seeded Herington upset the second-seeded Lady Oilers of Central Plains in the semi-final match of the 2A sub-state volleyball tournament in Lincoln. Top-ranked Ell-Saline won the championship match.

Read about these games in the Oct. 25 edition of the I-R.