The Tri-Valley Mustang volleyball team traveled to Montrose to take on the McCook Central/Montrose Fighting Cougars in a Region 3A matchup on Thursday, September 28th. The Mustangs won a very close five-set match by scores of 25-23, 22-25, 25-21, 19-25, and 15-8.
Tri-Valley took an early 4-0 lead to start the first set which was enough to keep them in front all set long. The Mustangs stayed in front by three-to-five points for most of it. They had a 22-16 lead only to have the Fighting Cougars pull within a point, 24-23. Tri-Valley, however, stopped the rally and got the final point for the win. The second set started with a 4-4 tie. The Mustangs was in front 12-8, but McCook Central/Montrose tied the score 14-14. The Fighting Cougars then went on to build a 23-18 lead before winning 25-22.
The Mustangs started the third set with a 5-2 run. They continued to lead by score of 12-8 and 14-10. McCook Central/Montrose tied the score 15-15, but Tri-Valley went on a 5-1 run for a 20-16 lead. The Fighting Cougars got within two points, 22-20, but the Mustangs ended the set on a 3-1 run for the 25-21 win. The fourth set started with 4-4 tie. McCook Central/Montrose then got rolling and went on a 7-1 run. They had a 19-12 lead before Tri-Valley got within four, 20-16. The Fighting Cougars would take the fourth set 25-19 to force a fifth set.
Tri-Valley bounced back in the fifth set and grabbed the momentum early. They started on a 6-0 run which was enough to keep them in front for the win. They led 9-5 and 12-8 before finishing the match on a 3-0 run for the 15-8 win.
Madelyn Wenzel finished with 19 kills and six set assists. Abigail Wagner had seven kills, 25 set assists, and 13 digs. Emery Pearson added nine kills. Nevaeh Grann had seven kills and six digs. Hilary Hastings finished with six kills. Emily Wenzel had 12 set assists and seven digs. Julia Mauszycki had 16 digs, Cheyenne Hanson had 10 digs, and Kenzie Atwood had eight.
