Eagles go 1-2 during four-team volleyball matches at Lakin

LAKIN — The Colby High School volleyball team earned a victory and battled host Lakin to the brink during its second road trip of the season on Sept. 1.

The Eagles finished 1-2 in the four-team event, defeating Ulysses in straight sets but also falling to Holcomb and Lakin. Colby’s win came by scores of 25-21 and 25-17. Holcomb defeated the Eagles 25-22, 25-15, while Lakin prevailed 25-18, 27-25.

Colby opened the day against Holcomb and stayed within striking distance throughout a competitive first set.

The Eagles held early leads of 7-6 and 9-8 before the Longhorns moved in front. Holcomb eventually stretched its advantage to 24-19, but Colby refused to give away the set.

Emily Flanagin delivered an ace as the Eagles fought off set point, and Colby scored three consecutive points to pull within 24-22. Holcomb finally ended the comeback with a kill to secure the 25-22 win.

The Longhorns carried that momentum into the second set, scoring the first five points. Colby briefly cut the deficit to 6-4, but Holcomb answered with another run and built a 15-8 advantage.

The Eagles continued to battle, with Savannah Krohn contributing an ace and Colby putting together a late three-point run. The early deficit proved too large to overcome, however, as Holcomb closed out the match with a 25-15 victory.

Colby responded with its strongest performance of the day against Ulysses.

The Eagles raced to a 7-2 advantage in the opening set behind strong work at the net from Kenley Moss and attacks from Krohn and Fia Tubbs. Ulysses rallied and eventually cut the Colby lead to one point at 18-17.

Harper Vaughn stopped the Tigers’ run with a kill, and Colby regained control down the stretch. After Ulysses pulled within 20-19, the Eagles scored four of the next five points to reach set point.

Moss finished the set with a kill, giving Colby a 25-21 win.

The Eagles took command much earlier in the second set. Colby turned a 3-3 tie into an 8-3 lead, with Tubbs finding the sideline for a kill and the Eagles receiving strong play from Moss, Krohn and Flanagin.

Krohn then helped Colby pull away from the service line. The Eagles built leads of 13-5 and 17-9 and never allowed Ulysses to mount another serious comeback.

Moss placed an attack into an open spot for a 16-9 advantage and later added another kill to make it 21-13. Vaughn powered home the point that put Colby at match point, and the Eagles completed the sweep, 25-17.

Colby closed the day against host Lakin.

After dropping the opening set 25-18, the Eagles played their tightest set of the day. Neither team could create much separation through the middle portion of the second set, which was tied at 16, 17, 18 and 19.

Lakin then put together a five-point run and reached match point with a 24-19 lead. Colby answered with a determined comeback.

A Flanagin attack started the rally before Krohn produced a difficult serve that Lakin could not handle. Another Lakin error brought the Eagles within one, and Moss tied the set at 24 with a kill off the block.

Krohn’s next serve gave Colby a 25-24 lead and an opportunity to force a third set.

Lakin called timeout and responded by winning the next point. With the score tied at 25, the Broncs prevailed in two extended rallies to escape with a 27-25 victory and complete the sweep.

The 1-2 showing moved Colby’s season record to 3-5. The schedule sends the Eagles back to Holcomb for their next match Sept. 10.