The high school volleyball season got rolling for three area teams over the weekend as Centralia, Axtell and Oskaloosa all competed in the Wabaunsee Invite. 

For the third straight year the lady Panthers of Centralia started the volleyball season by winning the Wabaunsee Invitational crown. The Panthers pounced on the competition tallying a 5-0 day at the tournament to add another trophy to the case at Centralia. In pool play action Centralia took down Council Grove (25-12, 25-14) and Oskaloosa (25-9, 25-14) both in straight sets, while beating the host Wabaunsee in three sets (25-15, 18-25, 25-19). In the Semifinals, Centralia drew Rock Creek and picked up the straight set win (25-13, 25-6), moving in the Championship to square off with the host Wabaunsee for the second time in the day. Just like the first match it went three sets as the Panthers lost set one and battled back to win the match in three sets (19-25, 25-22, 25-14) to claim the tournament title. 

Fellow Twin Valley League to Centralia in the Axtell Eagles for the second straight volleyball season opened the year with a fourth place showing at the Wabaunsee Invite going 3-2 on the day. Axtell went through the competition in pool play going 3-0 beating Mission Valley in straight sets (25-15, 25-18) but needed three sets to beat Rock Creek (25-13, 23-25, 25-21) and Osage City (18-25, 25-16, 25-11). After winning the pool the Eagles took on the host Wabaunsee in the Semifinals and fell in straight sets (9-25, 22-25), setting up a rematch with Rock Creek for third place and the Mustangs got the better of the Eagles this time in straight sets (15-25, 16-25) giving Axtell a fourth place finish. 

Oskaloosa also opened their volleyball season at the Wabaunsee Invite and finished the day 0-5. The Bears in pool play lost to Centralia (9-25, 14-25) and Wabaunsee (18-25, 12-25) in straight sets, while they pushed Council Grove to three sets but fell in the contest (25-12, 8-25, 9-25). In the consolation Semifinals the Bears gave Mission Valley a tough matchup but fell in three sets (16-25, 25-23, 23-25) and then in the seventh place match Oskaloosa took a straight set loss to Osage City (25-27, 18-25). 

All three teams get back to action on Tuesday in League play as Oskaloosa travels to Jackson Heights for a triangular with the Cobras and McLouth. While in the TVL Centralia travels to Linn for a triangular against the Bulldogs and Valley Heights and Axtell travels to Doniphan West for a triangular with the Mustangs and Washington County. 

2016 Wabaunsee Invite Results: 

Pool A: Axtell def. Rock Creek 25-13, 23-25, 25-21
                         def. Mission Valley 25-15, 25-18
                         def. Osage City 18-25, 25-16, 25-11
Rock Creek def. Osage City 22-25, 25-18, 25-16
                     def. Mission Valley 25-13, 25-17
Mission Valley def. Osage City 25-22, 25-13

Pool B: Centralia def. Council Grove 25-12, 25-14
                               def. Oskaloosa 25-9, 25-14
                               def. Wabaunsee 25-15, 18-25, 25-19
Wabaunsee def. Oskaloosa 25-18, 25-12
                      def. Council Grove 25-17, 25-14
Council Grove def. Oskaloosa 12-25, 25-8, 25-9

Consolation semi-finals:
Mission Valley def. Oskaloosa 25-16, 23-25, 25-23
Council Grove def. Osage City 16-25, 25-23, 25-13

Championship semi-finals:
Wabaunsee def. Axtell 25-9, 25-22
Centralia def. Rock Creek 25-13, 25-6

Seventh Place: Osage City def. Oskaloosa 27-25, 25-18
Fifth Place: Council Grove def. Mission Valley 25-19, 25-12
Third Place: Rock Creek def. Axtell 25-15, 25-16
First Place: Centralia def. Wabaunsee 19-25, 25-22, 25-14