Tigers take second at home tourney

The No. 8 (1A) New London volleyball team placed second at their home tournament on Saturday. The Tigers went 2-1, beating Van Buren County and Mid-Prairie in pool play, but falling to tournament champion West Burlington in the championship.

The Tigers vanquished Vbc 21-10, 21-14 in their pool play match. Natalie Burden had four kills to lead the Tigers, and Chelsey Huff finished with six kills to pace the Warriors.

New London took down Mid-Priairie 21-9 and 21-11. Keaura Williams had six kills in the win to lead New London, and Mid-Prairie was led by Karson Jehle, who had four kills.

The Tigers then took on West Burlington in a matchup of undefeated pool play winners for the tournament title. The Falcons were too much for the Tigers, beating them 21-15 and 21-12. Williams racked up four kills in the tournament final, and Elly Manning dished out eight assists to lead the New London.

Winfield-Mt. Union took third in the tournament. The Wolves went 1-1 in pool play, sweeping Highland but getting swept by West Burlington before defeating Mid-Prairie for third place.

W-MU topped Highland 21-11 and 21-16, led by a 10 kill performance from Jenna Buffington. The Huskies were paced by Kayla Cerny, who had three of the team's five kills.

West Burlington knocked the Wolves off 21-17 and 21-15. Buffington had eight kills in the loss.

W-MU then cruised past Mid-Prairie 21-12 and 21-12 in the third-place game. Buffington had nine kills in that win. The Golden Hawks had just three kills, two from Jehle and one from Phelan Hostetler.

Mid-Prairie and VBC played the tightest game of the night, a three-set pool play match that went to the Golden Hawks 14-21, 21-15, 17-15. Hostetler had six blocks and three kills to lead Mid-Priarie, and VBC was paced by a 13-kill game from Huff.

In the only other matchup between Union coverage area teams, VBC knocked off Highland in three sets, 20-22, 21-14, 15-8. Shea Scott had 12 kills to lead the Warriors in that win, and Carson Mellinger paced the Huskies with seven kills.