Scottsbluff handles Sidney in four sets

The Sidney High volleyball team continued to struggle, losing to district rival Scottsbluff 25-21, 25-23, 15-25, 25-11 on Tuesday night at the Cabela's Athletic Facility.

Sidney (4-10) held a 3-1 lead to start the opening set, but the Bearcats (5-8) took the lead at 5-3 and didn't give it back for the rest of the set. The Lady Raiders got within 9-8, but Scottsbluff mustered a 6-0 run to give itself some separation midway through the set. Trailing 24-18, the Lady Raiders cut their deficit in half, but the Bearcats spiked a ball that deflected off a Sidney player's hands and out of bounds to win the first set, 25-21.

In the second set, neither Sidney nor Scottsbluff could establish any prolonged rhythm. Three-to-zero runs were exchanged between the squads, until Sidney took its first lead of the set at 18-17. The Bearcats got the next point, but the Lady Raiders reeled off five straight points to go up 23-18. Sidney appeared to have the set in hand, but Scottsbluff sucked the air out of the gym with a shocking 7-0 run to steal the set, 25-23.

As it did last week against Chase County, Sidney found some energy in the third set. The Lady Raiders got on an early roll and jumped out to a commanding 14-5 lead. Scottsbluff slashed into the Lady Raiders' lead by closing the gap to 21-15.

But, Sidney finished off the set with an emphatic 4-0 run to win, 25-15.

The emotions of a convincing win in the third set quickly faded by the middle of the fourth, however. The Bearcats had gotten back on track and led 14-7 halfway through. Sidney earned points here and there but couldn't slow Scottsbluff's momentum. The Bearcats won the set, 25-11, to claim the match.

The Lady Raiders will take the floor again this weekend when it travels to Scottsbluff for a two-day tournament on Friday and Saturday.