Silver Lake Volleyball Sweeps Tri at Royal Valley

The Silver Lake volleyball swept their Big East League Tri on Tuesday night at Royal Valley with victories over the Panthers and Nemaha Central. 

All three teams entered the night in the mix for the league title, but the Eagles kept pace alongside Holton and Riley County after the sweep. 

Match 1: Nemaha Central vs. Royal Valley = 23-25, 25-20, 25-16

Back and forth in the first set between the Thunder and Panthers. NC opened an early lead of 6-2, but Royal Valley rallied and built a 19-14 advantage. At that point, NC would score 8 of the next 10 points to come back to take set one 25-23. 

Nemaha Central scored the first two points of the second set, but the Panthers responded well and taking a 6-5 lead and would never trail the rest of the set forcing set three. 

Two teams exchanged leads early in the final set with NC leading 12-11 at one point. After that, the Panthers would score eight in a row and that would be enough to hold off the Thunder for the win. 

Match 2: Nemaha Central vs. Silver Lake = 20-25, 25-16, 25-15

Just like in their first match with Royal Valley, the Thunder won their first set against Silver Lake. After the Eagles scored the first two in the opening set, NC rattled off three in a row and never trailed the rest of the way to win the first set 25-20. 

The defending league and 3A state champs Silver Lake responded and controlled the pace in the next two sets to complete the comeback victory. 

The Thunder would score the first point in set two and then the Eagles would rattle off three in a row and never trail forcing the third set with a 25-16 win. The third set was similar with a 3-3 tie early, but the Eagles would go on a run and never trail the rest of the way. 

Match 3: Silver Lake vs. Royal Valley = 24-26, 25-19, 25-21

Royal Valley started this match out in great fashion as they scored 4 of the first 5 points and at one point led the Eagles 8-4. Silver Lake responded and got out in front of the Panthers 13-10 to force a RV timeout. 

The Eagles would build a 19-14 lead, but the Panthers came back to take a 23-22 lead and would hold on for the 26-24 set one victory. 

Royal Valley scored 3 of the first 4 points in set two, but the Eagles came roaring back to take a 4-3 lead and they wouldn't trail at any point the rest of the set going on to win it 25-19. 

The third set was similar to set two as Royal Valley scored 4 of the first 5 points, but Silver Lake would go on a run which included six straight points and 9 of 12 to get out to an early advantage. 

The Panthers rallied back and got within 19-17, but the Eagles would 5 of the next 6 points to take down the win in comeback fashion. 

All three matches, the winner of the first set ultimately lost the match. 

Updated Big East League standings after the results at Royal Valley

1. Silver Lake (8-1) 
2. Holton (7-1) 
2. Riley County (7-1) 
4. Royal Valley (6-3)