The Lady Bobcats traveled to Merna on Tuesday, Sept. 1, to compete in a volleyball triangular with Anselmo-Merna and Mullen. The first game of the evening pitted the Bobcats against the Lady Coyotes, with South Loup getting the win.

After suffering a very close five-set loss in their first outing of the season, the Lady Bobcats won both sets over the Coyotes, 25-15 and 25-23. Junior Emma Stallbaumer and senior Asa Starr teamed up for 13 kills between them to lead the Bobcats’ attack. Olivia Fitzgerald contributed 4 kills, and Berklee Preston added 3, while Rae Hagler and Kamryn Kramer each had 1 kill. Fitzgerald, a junior, was also dangerous from the service line, where she hammered 3 aces across the net - the only South Loup player to record a service ace in the game.

The defense for South Loup was solid and balanced, with Hagler getting the most touches on the ball with 14 while recording 5 digs in the match. Charli Pandorf led the team with 6 digs, while Fitzgerald and Preston each had 2 digs.

Due to the triangular format, the teams only played two sets per match. With a confidence-building win now under their belts, the Bobcats prepared to meet Mullen in the second game of the night. They carried the momentum from the victorious first match into the first set against the Lady Broncos, but came up just short, dropping the set 25-22.

The Bobcats struggled in the second set to get their shots to fall, while the Broncos took control of the game to easily win the set 25-13 and take the match.

Preston led the offensive attack for the Bobcats with 4 kills in the match, with Starr and Hagler each adding 3 kills, and Kramer and Fitzgerald each recording 2 kills. Kramer also put down 3 service aces, while Pandorf had 2 ace serves.

On defense, it was the freshman who also led the way as Preston had 6 digs. Senior Tiersa Johnson had 4 digs in the match, Pandorf and Starr each had 3, and Hagler and Josie Lehmkuhler each had 2 digs.

The Bobcats returned to their home court on Thursday, Sept. 3, as they hosted Sandhills Valley in Arnold. South Loup was firing on all cylinders in set one easily getting the win over the Mavericks, 25-13. While the Mavericks managed to close the gap slightly in the second set, the Bobcats were still dominant and took the set 25-17. However, Sandhills Valley fought back in the third and made it close, but the Bobcats were able to hold on for the 25-23 win to get the sweep.

Fitzgerald led the offensive attack for the Bobcats, getting 10 kills in the match. She was followed by Stallbaumer with 7, Preston with 6, Kramer with 4, and Hagler and Starr, each with 2 kills. Preston added 7 service aces for the Bobcats; Kramer had 5, and Fitzgerald landed 3 ace serves on the night.

Pandorf received 12 Mavericks serves and was able to keep the ball off the floor every time. Fitzgerald added 8 digs in the game, and Hagler had 5 digs.

The Bobcats are back in action this evening on their home court in Arnold as they host Gothenburg for matches at 5, 6, and 7 p.m.