Cyclones Edge Neligh-Oakdale For Homecoming Sweep

It took four sets, but the Clearwater-Orchard volleyball team topped Neligh-Oakdale to complete a 4-0 homecoming week.

The Cyclones won 25-22, 25-27, 25-18, 25-15 in Orchard on Friday night.

Despite a week filled with potential distractions, coach Sierra Summers said her players handled it well.

"I'm proud of all of the girls for the success during homecoming week," she said. 

The Cyclones got off to a quick start in the first set, but Neligh-Oakdale powered back to make it a game. The Warriors carried their momentum into the second and pulled ahead early. Down 24-21, the Cyclones rattled off three straight to tie it at 24-all. The teams matched each other point for point until the Warriors scored the win to even the sets at 1-1.

"We were starting to pick it up at the end of the first set and knew we had to keep it going in the second," Neligh-Oakdale coach Hannah Hoefer said. "We had to keep fighting point after point. We really focused on not letting them get on a run and keep the momentum on our side."

Clearwater-Orchard then took control, winning the next two sets to complete the homecoming sweep. They picked up a pair of wins on Tuesday at a home triangular before topping Ewing in four sets on Thursday.

The four-game win streak comes after the Cyclones started 0-2. 

"We had a really rough start to the season, so we focused on the things on what we weren't doing well and focused on what we needed to do as a team," Summers said. "We're adding more emphasis on the points that we earn rather than dwelling on the ones we lose."

With the loss, Neligh-Oakdale falls to 2-4 on the season.