South Central, Neoga Pick Up Opening Round NTC Tourney Wins

South Central and Neoga picked up first round victories in the National Trail Conference Volleyball Tournament Thursday.

The Cougars of South Central won the opening match 25-15, 25-13 over North Clay (Louisville).

Kendall Burleyson tallied 13 points and had six aces, five kills and 11 assists for the Cougars. Hannah Rubin had six kills and eight digs. South Central improves to 20-7 on the season.

North Clay was led by Mason Harmon with five digs. MaKenna Mette had one kill.

Neoga then handed Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City a loss in two sets, 25-13, 25-14.

Leading CHBC were Skylar Morrison with five assists, Haley Atchley with 15 digs and four kills.

The tournament continues tonight with sessions at the Enlow Center and Goff Gym beginning at 5 p.m.

NTC Tournament

Match One

South Central -- Burleyson, 13 points 6 aces, 5 kills, 11 assists, 3 digs; Rubin, 6 kills, 3 points, 8 digs; Bray, 6 points, 1 ace, 2 digs; Chapman, 4 kills, 2 points, 9 assists, 3 digs; Crain, 4 points, 2 aces, 18 digs; Germany, 3 kills; Wilkins, 2 kills; Hahn, 1 point, 1 kill, 2 digs; Sigrist, 1 kill

North Clay -- Jones, 1 block, 1 ace, 3 digs; Fender, 1 kill, 2 blocks; Walters, 6 digs; Mette, 1 kill; Rinehart, 2 digs; Coble, 1 dig; M. Harmon, 5 digs; K. Harmon, 2 digs, 1 ace

Match Two

Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City -- Morrison,1  kill, 5 assists, 4 digs; Clearwater, 1 block, 1 assist; Kirchhofer, 2 kills, 3 assists, 8 digs; Atchley, 4 kills, 15 digs; Johnson, 3 aces, 2 kills, 5 digs; Doedtman, 1 kill; McKee, 3 digs; Wojcik, 1 dig

At Effingham

Taylorville came calling and picked up a victory over Effingham 25-16, 25-21. The Hearts fall to 3-6 in the Apollo Conference, 6-21 overall.

EHS was led by Kaitlyn Baker with six kills, Sidney Webster and Aly Armstrong with four assists, Kiyah Kuhlman and Abbey Meinhart with two aces each and Victoria Garren with 14 digs.

The Hearts won the junior varsity match 25-13, 25-17 to improve to 10-5.

The two teams split victories in freshman/sophomore play. The Hearts won 25-20 and Taylorville won 25-20. EHS is 9-6-1.

At Effingham

Varsity Match

Effingham -- Garren, 14 digs; Kuhlman, 2 aces, 1 block; Christy, 1 ace, 2 digs; Baker, 6 kills, 1 ace, 2 blocks, 6 digs; Meinhart, 1 kill, 2 aces, 1 dig; Fearday, 3 digs; Webster, 2 kills, 4 assists, 4 digs; Martin, 1 kill, 2 digs; Cordes, 1 block; Armstrong, 5 assists, 2 digs

Junior Varsity Match

Effingham -- Fox, 8 digs; Kuhlman, 3 kills, 2 blocks, 2 digs; Christy, 7 kills, 3 aces, 4 digs; Webster, 5 kills, 2 assists, 2 aces, 2 digs; Fearday, 17 assists, 2 aces, 9 digs; Borries, 2 aces; Buscher, 3 digs; Carie, 2 kills, 1 dig; Feldhake, 1 ace; Myers, 5 kills, 1 assist, 2 blocks, 2 digs

Freshman/Sophomore Match

Effingham -- Jennings, 1 kill, 2 assists, 1 dig; Martin, 3 kills, 1 ace, 6 digs; Borries, 1 assist, 1 ace, 2 digs; Stortzum, 1 ace, 1 dig; Budde, 4 kills, 1 assist, 2 aces, 3 digs; Kull, 1 kill, 13 assist, 1 ace, 2 digs; Krouse, 2 digs; Feldhake, 10 kills, 1 assist, 3 aces, 2 digs; Niebrugge, 1 kill

At Olney

Newton had to go three sets to beat Olney. The Eagles won the opener 25-21 then fell in the second set 25-20 but came back with a 15-13 win to improve to 25-2 on the season.

Smith had three aces for the winners while Bergbower led in kills with 14. Hartrich had 19 assists and Earnest two blocks. Cohorst led in digs withi 13.

In the junior varsity match, Newton fell to Olney 25-21, 19-25, 25-23.

At Olney

Varsity Match

Newton -- Smith, 3 aces, 1 kill, 1 assist, 5 digs; Frohning, 2 aces, 4 kills, 1 assist, 9 digs; Cohorst, 1 ace, 4 kills, 13 digs; Bergbower, 14 kills, 1 assist, 8 digs; Hartrich, 2 kills, 19 assists, 1 block, 2 digs; Shipman, 1 assist, 2 digs; Hardiek, 1 assist, 7 digs; Earnest, 2 blocks