The West Central Trojans hosted the Vermillion Tanagers to start the 2026 volleyball season on Tuesday, August 25th. The Tanagers took the win in four sets by scores of 25-21, 22-25, 25-21, and 27-25.
Vermillion got out to a 7-3 lead in the opening set. West Central responded with a 6-2 run to tie the score 9-9. The score was tied 11-11 and 13-13. The Tanagers went on a run to take an 18-13 lead. That run kept them in front the rest of the set. The Trojans got within three points, 22-19, but the Tanagers held for the 25-21 win. The first half of the second set went back and forth with neither team getting much of an advantage. The two teams played to a 13-13 tie score. The Trojans would go on a 5-1 run to take an 18-14 lead. That spurt put West Central in front the rest of the set as they tied the match 1-1 with a 25-22 victory.
The Tanagers took an early 7-2 lead to start the third set. The early momentum put them in front for the whole set. West Central did get within a point, 10-9, but Vermillion responded to extend their lead to 17-11. They pushed that advantage to 21-14. The Trojans rallied late and got within three points, 24-21, but they ran out of time as Vermillion won 25-21. West Central kept that momentum and started the fourth set with a 5-0 run. Vermillion responded with a 6-1 run to tie the score 6-6. The teams were tied at 9-9 and 11-11. Vermillion went ahead 15-13, but the Trojans then went on a 6-0 run to go in front 19-15. The Tanagers responded with a 6-0 run of their own to go back in front, 21-19. West Central tied the score 21-21. Vermillion was on the brink of a win leading 24-22, but the Trojans rallied for three straight points to go in front 25-24. After the Tanagers tied the score 25-25, they got the final two points to take the 27-25 win.
Maddyx Ingalls finished with 15 kills and nine digs. Jordyn Phillips added seven kills and four digs. Ella Harden had six kills and four digs. Sophia Gross also had six kills. Hadley Borgen and Brylee Garry each had 12 set assists. Brynlee Ideker finished with 11 set assists and four digs. Ellie Knight tallied 14 digs, and Ashtyn Nilson had 11 digs.
