The Bearcat volleyball team traveled to compete at the Lyons Invitational Sept. 23.

At the start of a fivegame day, the Cats played three pool play matches, beginning with the day with the Ell-Saline Cardinals.

From the start of the match, Ellsworth took charge of the court. Each player did their part and worked collectively with their teammates.

While the Cardinals held on to the Bearcats for a majority of the first set, Ellsworth was able to finish with a victory, winning 25-20.

In the second set, the team used the momentum they gained from the previous win to dominate the game. With minimal errors and great teamwork, the Bearcats were able to finish on top in the second set with a score of 25-10.

With very little break before their second match, the Cats were prepared to use that same momentum from the last game in their competition versus Little River.

Just two weeks prior, Ellsworth took a loss at their home tournament to the Redskins. However, in this matchup, the Bearcats were determined to finish on top.

From the first serve, the Cats were ready. They played with intensity and fought through all the obstacles Little River threw at them. Ellsworth finished with a win in the first set, 25-19.

In the second set, the Redskins were able to gain a substantial lead, and the Cats were simply unable to stay aggressive enough to match the level of play Little River brought to the set. The Redskins won the second set 25-18.

In the tie-breaking third set, each team fought till the last play. The lead went back and forth continuously until the end.

As the Redskins were up 24-23, the Cats made a play at the net that was argued by the officials and ultimately ruled in favor of Ellsworth.

Now tied 24-24, the Bearcats made it their goal to be Little River’s first loss of the season. This goal was accomplished shortly after when the Cats won the game 26-24.

The team sees the win over the No. 1-ranked team in 1A as a major boost to the their potential.

“I think we were confident in each other and hungry for this win, and both of these showed during the match,” Head Coach Amy Johnson said. “We played with great intensity throughout the match and were able to build on the positives. This win should help our entire team to realize that we can play with, and beat, anyone if we work together and trust each other.”

In the final pool play game, the Bearcats came out really slow. After a long-fought, intense match just minutes before, they were unprepared to keep that level of aggression on the court against Sterling. Despite being down 10 points at one moment, the Cats managed to persevere and win the first set 27-25.

After having a set to adjust to the competition, Ellsworth was much more prepared in the second set. They were able to finish the match in two sets, winning the second 25-16.

Because the Cats won all three of their pool play matches, they were ranked first overall in their pool. The top team in one pool played the second place team in the other pool, where the Bearcats took on the Ellinwood Eagles for the third time this season.

Coming back from the longest break of the day, the Bearcats did not return with as much energy and intensity as they had previously in the day. The Eagles won the first set 25-18.

Although Ellsworth fought to stay in the game, they fell short in the second set as well, allowing an Ellinwood victory, 25-19.

Because the team lost the game to Ellinwood, they were in the game to play for third and fourth place. Little River also lost to Southeast, so the Cats took on the Redskins for the second time that day. However, with it being the fifth game of the day, the Bearcats did not play with the same level of fight they had in the first competition. The first set ended in a Little River victory, 25-20. The Redskins also won the second set 25-21.

Although the team finished fourth for the day, it was a day full of improvement for them as a whole.

“Going 3-0 in pool play was a real positive,” Johnson said. “The girls showed real grit and determination throughout the day. They showed a love of the game and of each other, which was really great to witness.”

The team will compete in a triangular at Russell Sept. 28 against Russell and St. John.