Sidney ends Wolverines’ season in regional final

East Mills was great this season.

Sidney, as they proved in last Tuesday’s Class 1A, Region 3 volleyball finals, was a little bit better.

The Class 1A, No. 1 ranked Cowboys put in an efficient, business-like performance in getting their fifth straight win this season over the Wolverines with a 25-20, 25-14, 25-20 sweep before a reporter-estimated crowd of 1,000 in Tabor.

The Wolverines (25-8), who were seeking their third straight state tournament berth, never seemed to get on track offensively in the regional finals. Against a team like Sidney, said East Mills coach Connie Blank, that proved costly.

“We struggled putting everything together,” Blank said. “This was the fifth time we’ve played them and they do such a good job keeping the ball alive. They were ready for us. We were ready for them but we just couldn’t put it together.”

East Mills got out to a quick 5-0 lead in the opening set and looked to be establishing some momentum before the Cowgirls’ rallied. Back-to-back kills by Paige Smith and Maddie Duncan delivered Sidney its first lead at 16-15. They would never trail in the set again.

All night the long the active Cowgirl defense scrambled and frustrated the Wolverine hitters. Every point was a struggle. East Mills hit just .034 for the night with 24 kills. Alex Knop led the ray with eight kills. No other Wolverine had more than five.

Sidney tallied 65 digs on the night. Duncan led the way with 16 and Presley Brumbaugh and Olivia Larsen added 12 each.

The Cowgirls’ offense was just as sharp. They hit at a .230 clip and racked up 43 kills. Smith led a balanced attack with 11 kills. Duncan, Brumbaugh and Kelsey Hobbie added nine kills each.

After the game, an emotional Blank reminded her team one loss does nothing to diminish what they accomplished this season.