Nine area teams and one non-area squad meet up in Seneca on Saturday for volleyball action as Nemaha Central played host to a tournament.

The best area team performance came at the hands of the host team the Nemaha Central Thunder as they finished second behind the lone non-area team in Rock Creek who took home first place by toping the Thunder in the championship match. Marysville and Sabetha both made it out of pool play, too and faced off for third after losing in the Semifinals the Bulldogs took third, by beating the Bluejays in the third place match.

In the Blue pool on the day Rock Creek finished atop the pool standings going 4-0. The Mustangs won all their matches in straight sets in pool play beating Riverside (25-6, 25-9), Sabetha (25-12, 25-14), Horton (25-11, 25-12) and ACCHS (25-14, 25-17). Sabetha finished second in the pool to match it to the Semifinals after going 3-1 in pool play with the loss to Rock Creek, but wins over Riverside (25-12, 25-10) and ACCHS (25-15, 25-17) both in straight sets, while needing three sets to top Horton (27-29, 25-17, 25-17). ACCHS finished pool play and the tournament going 2-2 with wins over Riverside (25-10, 25-15) and Horton (20-25, 25-8, 25-13), while the Horton Chargers did pick up a win on the day over Riverside (25-18, 25-20) finishing 1-3 in competition but forced two of their three losses to three sets. Riverside finished the day at the Nemaha Central Invitational 0-4.

The Purple pool was highlighted by the host Nemaha Central and Marysville who finished first and second in pool play, respectively. The Thunder went a perfect 4-0 in pool play action winning all their matches in straight sets, beating Marysville (25-13, 25-15), Atchison (26-24, 25-21), Hiawatha (25-12, 25-5) and Pleasant Ridge (25-14, 25-16). Marysville finished pool play action 3-1 with the loss to Nemaha Central, but wins over Atchison (25-18, 25-17), Pleasant Ridge (25-14, 25-19) and Hiawatha (25-12, 25-21). Atchison finished third in the pool and finished the tournament going 2-2 with wins over Hiawatha (25-22, 25-17) and Pleasant Ridge (19-25, 25-16, 25-20), while Pleasant Ridge wrapped up the tournament action going 1-3 with their lone win over Hiawatha (22-25, 25-23, 25-15) coming in three sets. Hiawatha finished the day at the Nemaha Central Invitational 0-4.

In the Semifinals, Rock Creek took on Marysville and Nemaha Central took on their rival Sabetha for a right to play for the tournament Championship. Rock Creek continued their strong tournament winning in straight sets over Marysville, 25-22, 25-17, while Nemaha Central claimed the win over Sabetha but needed three sets to do so, 25-22, 24-26 and 25-22.

Rock Creek in the Championship topped the host Nemaha Central in straight sets to win the tournament title and finish the day 6-0, while the Thunder finished the tournament 5-1, as the Mustangs won the Championship match 25-17, 25-17. In the third place match Marysville won in three sets 10-25, 25-18 and 25-14 over Sabetha, giving the Bluejays fourth on the day as they finished 3-3 and Marysville finished the tournament 4-2.

Teams now turn their attention back to League play coming up in the week to come after hard fought matchups in tournament play over the weekend.

2014 Nemaha Central Volleyball Invitational Results

Blue Pool
Rock Creek def Riverside 25-6, 25-9
ACCHS def Horton 20-25,25-8, 25-13
Rock Creek def Sabetha 25-12, 25-14
ACCHS def Riverside 25-10, 25-15
Sabetha def Horton 27-29, 25-17, 25-17
Rock Creek def Horton 25-11, 25-12
Sabetha def ACCHS 25-15, 25-17
Sabetha def Riverside 25-12, 25-10
Rock Creek def ACCHS 25-14, 25-17
Horton def Riverside 25-18, 25-20

Nemaha Central def Pleasant Ridge 25-14, 25-16