Lady Eagles finish 2-3 at Norton Volleyball Invitational

The Colby High School Lady Eagles opened their volleyball season with two victories in five matches at the Norton Volleyball Invitational on Saturday.

Colby earned straight-set wins over Otis-Bison and Ulysses while falling to Beloit, Norton and Ellsworth. The Lady Eagles finished the tournament with a 2-3 record.

The day began with a 25-15, 25-9 victory over Otis-Bison. The teams exchanged the lead early in the opening set before a service run by Savannah Krohn helped Colby move in front. Fia Tubbs followed with consecutive aces, and the Lady Eagles gradually extended their advantage. Colby scored the final point of the set on a Krohn attack.

Emily Flanagin served Colby to an early lead in the second set. Krohn, Tubbs, Kenley Moss and Harper Vaughn contributed points as the Lady Eagles pulled ahead 10-3. Colby continued to build its advantage and completed the sweep when an Otis-Bison attack went into the net.

Then the Lady Eagles faced Beloit in their second match and fell 25-14, 25-8. Colby stayed close during the early portion of the first set and received kills from Krohn, Tubbs and Moss. Beloit created separation later in the set and maintained control through the second. Flanagin, Tubbs and Bailey McCorkle recorded points for Colby in the loss.

Colby returned to the win column in its third match with a 25-19, 25-11 victory over Ulysses. The Lady Eagles built an early advantage in the first set, but Ulysses rallied to take a 12-9 lead. Colby tied the score at 15 before moving ahead during a service run by Joslyn Bartlett. Krohn added several late kills as the Lady Eagles secured the set.

Flanagin opened the second set against Ulysses with a five-point service run. Ulysses later reduced Colby’s lead to one, but the Lady Eagles responded with blocks and kills from Krohn, Korrynne Duffey and Tinsley Wolf. Krohn then helped Colby pull away during an extended run from the service line. The Lady Eagles closed the match in two sets and improved to 2-1.

Colby’s closest set of the tournament came against host Norton. The Lady Eagles started quickly behind kills from Krohn and Tubbs and an ace from Vaughn. Colby later used a six-point run to build a 20-15 advantage, but Norton answered and tied the score at 22. After the teams were tied again at 23, the Bluejays scored twice to take the set, 25-23.

The second set against Norton remained close through a 12-12 tie. Norton then moved ahead and extended its lead down the stretch, winning 25-16 to complete the sweep.

The Lady Eagles concluded the tournament against Ellsworth. Colby trailed late in the opening set but rallied to reduce the Bearcats’ advantage to 20-19. Krohn, Tubbs and Avery Hrnicek contributed during the comeback before Ellsworth held on for a 25-21 victory.

Tubbs recorded multiple kills in the second set, while Hrnicek and McCorkle also produced points for Colby. Ellsworth built an early lead and pulled away in the latter portion of the set to win 25-14.

Colby completed the tournament with victories over Otis-Bison and Ulysses and losses to Beloit, Norton and Ellsworth. They will be back in action on Tuesday as they travel to Lakin.