The Ellsworth High School Junior Varsity Volleyball Team took first place with a 4-1 record, Oct. 9, during the round robin tournament in Ellsworth.

Against Little River, the Lady Bearcats won two games, 25-13 and 25-23.

Against Sterling, it was a mixed bag with Ellsworth winning the first game, 25-21, losing the second, 24-26, and winning the third, 15-11.

Against Sacred Heart, Ellsworth won the first, 25-16, but dropped the next two, 19-25 and 10-15.

In action against the Russell Broncos, Ellsworth won both games 25-16 and 25-18, as they did against Republic County, 25-10 and 25-17.

Ellsworth Junior Varsity stat leaders for the five matches of the day were:

• Aces: Riley Rodriguez,18; Jessa Schultz, 17; Sierra Lanning, 16; Paityn Tenbrink, 10; Katelyn Soukup, 8.

• Assists: Riley Rodriguez, 43; Jessa Schult, 37.

• Kills: Keeley Pflughoeft, 22; Paityn Tenbrink, 21; Katelyn Soukup, 15; Sierra Lanning, 14.

• Stuff Blocks, Paityn Tenbrink, 2; Jessa Schultz, 1; MaLaney Brantley, 1.

• Digs: Sierra Lanning, 36; Jessa Schultz, 36; Lexi West, 33; Paityn Tenbrink, 31; Katelyn Soukup, 24; Keeley Pflughoeft, 24.

From Oct. 4 and Oct. 5 The Ellsworth High School Lady Bearcats Volleyball team struggled this past week, racking up several losses on the court.

“It’s been a tough week of volleyball for the Bearcats,” admitted Coach Amy Johnson. “With all four of our matches against state ranked teams.”

She added, however, the Bearcats are continuing to work hard.

In varsity action Oct. 4 against Central Plains, Ellsworth won the first game, 25-20, lost the second 8-25, and lost the third, 18-25. Against Smoky Valley, also on Oct. 4, the varsity lost the first game, 13-25 and the second, 10-25.

The next day, Oct. 5, against Beloit, the Bearcat varsity lost the first and second games of the first match, 9-25 and 16-25. In the second match, Beloit also dominated the Bearcat varsity 18-25 and 23-25.

Overall stat leaders for the Bearcats in all four varsity matches were:

• Aces: Ednah Nichols, 2.

• Assists: Kylan Turnipseed, 53.

• Kills: Greta Klein, 24; Rylan Ohl, 14; Ednah Nichols, 9; Peyton Coonrod, 7: Isabelle Lindsley, 7.

• Stuff Blocks: Greta Klein, 2; Isabelle Lindsley, 2.

• Digs: Peyton Coonrod, 21; Isabelle Lindsley, 17; Greta Klein, 16; Kylan Turnipseed, 15; Ednah Nichols, 15.

The Bearcat junior varsity also came up on the losing end against Central Plains, 24-26 and 11-25. It was the same against Smoky Valley, 8-25 and 16-25; and Beloit, 14-25, 13-25, 22-25, 17-25.

The Bearcat C Team won the first game against Beloit, 25-16, but lost the second 17-25.