Top-seed Leyton opens with Meridian at first state tournament since 2013
KEARNEY - The No. 2 Leyton volleyball team punched their ticket to the Nebraska School Activities Association State Volleyball Tournament for the first time in over a decade, sweeping No. 15 Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer in the Class D2-2 District Final on Saturday at Kearney Catholic High School.
The Warriors held the Titans to just 13 kills and no aces.
Senior Sydney Fortune and junior Macey Roelle led Leyton's attack with seven kills each, helping them to a 25-22, 25-15, 25-7 victory. Senior Riley Jones added five blocks and three kills. Zaili Benish and Ella Haley each delivered three aces.
The Warriors finished with 23 kills, 9 blocks and 7 aces.
Leyton (36-0) will head to Lincoln next Thursday, competing in its eighth state tournament in school history. The Warriors earned the top-seed and will play No. 8 Meridian (20-10) in the first round at 8 a.m. MST.
Leyton's best performance at the state level came in 2008, when they defeated Bancroft-Rosalie in four sets en route to a fourth-place finish in Class D1. Their win over Bancroft-Rosalie is the school's only win at the state championships.
The Titans, led by Elie Bstanding and Lillian Bowen with four kills each, concluded their season at 18-16.
Warrior fans will be able to follow Leyton through the state tournament on News Channel Nebraska radio station 987 The Big Boy (98.7 FM, thebigboy987.com, the free News Channel Nebraska app and on Alexa).
Leyton schools cancelled classes in both Dalton and Gurley on Thursday and Friday so families and community members can go to Lincoln to support the team.