Eagles Finish Liberal Quad on a High Note

What began as a scheduled tournament became a four-team quad Saturday, Sept. 19, but the change did little to slow the Colby High School volleyball team’s determination.

The Eagles faced Dodge City, Scott City and host Liberal during a busy day of volleyball, finishing 2-1 and saving some of their best play for the final two matches.

Colby opened against Dodge City and nearly stole a back-and-forth first set. The Eagles battled from behind, drew even at 23 and again at 24 before the Red Demons captured the final two points for a 26-24 victory.

Dodge City carried that momentum into the second set and won 25-11. Although the opener went in the loss column, Colby’s late push in the first set offered a glimpse of what was still to come.

The Eagles put that early setback behind them when they met Scott City.

After Scott City took the opening set 25-18, Colby answered with one of its grittiest efforts of the day. The Eagles fought through a tight second set, tying the score at 24 before pulling out a 26-24 victory.

With the match resting on the third set, Colby took control. Joslyn Bartlett helped the Eagles build momentum from the service line, while the Colby front row made life difficult for Scott City’s hitters. Blocks by Tatum Odell and Kenley Moss helped turn several rallies in the Eagles’ favor.

Colby closed the deciding set with confidence, winning 25-17 to complete the comeback.

The Eagles then carried that energy into their final match against Liberal.

Colby established an early advantage behind strong serving from Harper Vaughn and steady work throughout the rotation. Bailey McCorkle supplied several well-placed attacks, while Fia Tubbs recorded an ace and contributed both offensively and defensively.

Vaughn mixed power with well-timed off-speed shots, and Moss found open spots in the Liberal defense. Emily Flanagan helped keep the offense moving with her setting and also made several important plays around the net.

The Eagles won the opening set 25-16, but Liberal refused to let the home match slip away quietly. The second set remained close throughout, with Colby holding a 23-22 lead before the teams drew even at 23.

Colby stayed composed during the final two rallies. The Eagles regained the lead and then finished the match at the net, earning a 25-23 victory and a two-set sweep.

It was a fitting finish for a team that grew stronger as the day went along. Colby recovered from its opening loss, won four of its final five sets and headed north with consecutive victories.

Match results

• Dodge City def. Colby, 26-24, 25-11
• Colby def. Scott City, 18-25, 26-24, 25-17
• Colby def. Liberal, 25-16, 25-23