AREA SPORTS ROUNDUP

Potter-Dix

volleyball begins season with win

The Potter-Dix Lady Coyotes volleyball team won its season opener on Friday with a straight-set victory over the Morrill Lady Lions.

Though Morrill (1-1) won its opener against Bayard in four sets the prior evening, the Lions struggled against the Coyotes depth in Potter. The Coyotes won by set scores of 25-14, 25-18 and 25-17.

The Coyotes were led offensively by Dawson Sharman with 12 kills while Regyn Hicks and Audrey Juelfs each had five. The hitters were aided by setter Lanie Thie's 23 set assists. At the service line, the Coyotes dropped in 15 aces, including six by Hicks.

Defensively, Potter-Dix had 33 team digs with Hicks and Juelfs leading the way with eight each while Alexus Rozelle finished with six. Hicks also topped the team in blocks with five while Rozelle and Trinity Langley contributed three each.

Potter-Dix takes on its first district opponent on Tuesday with a match at Minatare at 5 p.m.

Lady Bulldogs

struggle at tourney

The Peetz Lady Bulldogs volleyball team struggled in its opening weekend of competition as it suffered three losses at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling on Saturday.

The Lady Bulldogs (0-3) dropped a pair of three setters to Dayspring Christian Academy (5-0) and Heritage Christian (3-2) before losing in four sets to Akron (1-5). Dayspring turned back Peetz 25-13, 25-11 and 25-13. Heritage Christian won by set scores of 25-15, 25-21 and 25-13. Though the match against Akron was close in every set, Peetz fell 25-22, 21-25, 25-19 and 25-21.

The Bulldogs are back in action Tuesday at 4 p.m. when they host Haxtun. They will be at Weldona on Thursday for a 5:30 p.m. start.

Leyton

football loses to Mullen, 44-6

The Leyton Warriors faced a powerful running attack in their season opener and came out on the short end of a 44-6 final at Mullen on Friday night.

The Broncos piled up 359 yards rushing on 49 carries, which included 233 yards by senior Gideon Monette. The Warriors, by contrast, managed only 59 yards on the ground, with Kordell Maestas leading the team with 44.

Leyton scored its lone touchdown on a 64-yard pass play from Rhett Dye to Drew Brenner in the final quarter. Brenner was also busy on defense as he led the team with 12 tackles. Dye and Tanner Bellmyer each brought down 10 Broncos' ball carriers. Dye also had two interceptions.

On special teams, Zach Hellie had eight punts and averaged better than 40 yards-per kick. His long was 61 yards.

The Warriors have another tough challenge on Friday when they host Sedgwick County (Colo.) in its home opener. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Storm football

bested by Eagles

Though Pierce Leef completed a 46-yard touchdown pass to Austin Soucie early in the second quarter, the Creek Valley Storm (0-2) had few other highlights as it went down to the Garden County Eagles, 82-8, in a non-district football matchup at Oshkosh on Friday night.

The Storm struggled to contain Eagles' (1-0) running back Matt McCarthy as he scored five first-quarter touchdowns. Junior Josh Shievelbein, however, was a bright spot for Creek Valley as he ran for 74 yards on just 12 carries. Soucie had 63 yards receiving, including his long touchdown catch.

Gage Koenen had a busy night on defense as he brought down 11 opposing ball carriers. Soucie, a freshman, had nine tackles.

The Storm are back at home on Friday when they host South Platte. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.