Lady Raiders Sweep Scottsbluff

SIDNEY – The Sidney Lady Raiders improved to 15-3 on the season with a sweep of Western Conference foe Scottsbluff Tuesday night at the Cabela’s Athletic Facility. Sidney out hit the Bearcats 41-24 on the way to a 25-19, 25-19, 25-23 win.

The Bearcats jumped out to an early 6-1 lead in the first set, but Sidney quickly tied the game at 6-6 on a pair of kills each from Karsyn Leeling and Gabby Fortner. The teams battled back and forth with seven more ties, that last time at 18-18. The Lady Raiders reeled off the next six points and finished with another Leeling kill for the 25-19 win.

Sidney’s four early service errors kept the Bearcats in the second set as the game was tied eight times, the last at 11-11. A 6-1 run by the Lady Raiders fueled by kills from four different attackers opened a 17-12 cushion for Sidney. The Lady Raiders followed that with another 6-1 run to win the set 25-19.

Sidney dominated early in the third set, exploding to a 22-11 lead. Scottsbluff rallied behind a strong block and several Sidney hitting errors to cut the Lady Raider lead to 23-19. After a Leeling kill gave Sidney a 24-19 advantage, the Bearcats survived four match-points before Sidney completed the sweep at 25-23.

Sidney was led by Chloe Ahrens with 12 kills. Karsyn Leeling added nine kills and Kayla Westby 8 kills on the night. The Bearcats were led by the eight kills of Paige Horne.

Both teams are in action this weekend at the Twin City Tournament in Scottsbluff and Gering. Pool play begins on Friday with Sidney in a pool with Rapid City Central, Chadron, and Crete.