It was a battle of two undefeated and state-ranked teams in the Big 7 on Tuesday night in Hoyt, with Sabetha winning all four sets convincingly against the defending 3A State champs at Royal Valley.  The Bluejays posted a 25-21 and 25-11 opening match win and then after a break, posted a 25-23 and 25-19 win to improve to 14-0 on the season and take sole possession of first in the League with a 6-0 mark.  Royal Valley, still playing without one of their top returning starters in Kennedy Bryan, is now 9-2 overall and 4-2 in Big 7 play. 

In match one, Sabetha jumped to a 5-0 lead and was ahead 8-1 before a timeout. The Panthers got it to 13-12 but could never tie or take the lead.  The Jays led 4-0 in game two and then 10-4 before another RV timeout. But Sabetha continued to run and stretched the margin to 17-5 after a Mary Lukert ace serve and Melinna Schumann took it to a dominating 24-9 lead before closing out the match. 

In the second match, the Panthers came out with more energy and fire and led by as many as three at 11-8. Yet, Sabetha took the lead back for good and 14-13 and got an ace from Camryn Wessel to go-ahead 22-16. A critical point was replayed at 23-18 and Royal Valley rattled off five straight behind serves from Morgan Harvey to pull even at 23.  Yet, a service error and then some luck allowed Sabetha to get the win as a spiked ball hit the shoulder of Schumann and bounced back over the night and down on the Panthers floor for the 25-23 victory. 

Sabetha again, used an early quick start to take momentum in game two with a 4-1 and then 8-3 advantage that led to another timeout. The Bluejays led 12-5 and were still up seven points and 22-15, never allowing RV back in the game.  Seniors Schumann, Leah Renyer and Wessel were fantastic all night along with Erin Deters piling up the blocks at the net. Emily Krebs also had a super night as the Sabetha setter.  

Royal Valley had won 15 straight against the Bluejays until a late three-set loss late last season. But on this night, the Panther struggled to put points together and communicate while also not getting very many spike and putaway opportunities for their star seniors Ivy Fink and Morgan Harvey as well as setter Emma McKinsey.