MORRILL - The Bayard Tiger volleyball team avenged their only loss of the season on their way to the Western Trails Conference volleyball tournament championship at Morrill high school Thursday night. The Tigers, who fell to Gordon-Rushville 25-15, 23-25, 25-16 at the Mitchell Invitational just five days prior, left no doubt with a 25-19, 25-15 win over the Mustangs.

The win marks Bayard’s first Western Trails Conference volleyball championship in 31 years. The Tigers last WTC crown came in 1991.

The Bayard opened the tournament with a 25-15, 25-13 win over Hemingford. Junior Danica Hasel fueled the Tigers hitting .292 for the match with 11 kills to advance to the championship game.

Against Gordon-Rushville in the championship, the Tigers held the Mustangs to 055 hitting on the way to a 25-19, 25-16 win. Junior Lexi Fiscus had 9 kills while hitting a team high .318. Danica Hasel contributed 9 kills of her own as Bayard outhit the Mustangs 26-15 to sweep the tournament.

Bayard is now 19-1 on the season and will travel to Kimball on Tuesday for a triangular with Kimball and Potter-Dix.