After a tough opening match in which little went right for the Malcolm volleyball team, week two went much better as the Clippers showed they belong on the court with some of the best competition in the state. Malcolm picked up four wins on the week with its only loss coming to Class B No. 4 Waverly in a hard fought three-set match at the Sept. 4 Beatrice Invitational.
Malcolm jumped out on top against a Vikings team that features Husker recruit Bekka Allick. The Clippers won the first set 25-22 before succumbing in the next two sets 25-16, 25-20. The first was the only set the Vikings lost in three matches on their way to the tournament title.
Kiley Elkins led the Clippers with 12 kills and 12 digs while Lauryn England offered up 20 assists.
Malcolm returned to the court to face Class B No. 3 Northwest and earn a three-set win, 25-21, 21-25, 30-28.
Three Malcolm players had double-digit kills as Diamond Sedlak and Gracie Burwell each slammed 14 balls to the floor while Elkins added 11. Elkins played solid defense and dug 12 balls while libero Abbie Zegar kept 10 balls off the court. England finished with 36 assists.
The win over the Vikings advanced Malcolm to the fifth place game where it faced a future Trailblazer Conference foe. The Clippers swept Beatrice 25-18, 25-20.
Elkins had 12 kills, seven digs and four service aces while England had 20 assists and seven digs.
The Clippers traveled to Louisville for a Sept. 2 triangular where they swept Brownell-Talbot 25-7, 25-11 and the Lions 25-14, 25-13.
Malcolm (4-2) will host the Malcolm Boosters Invite this week. The Clippers face Elmwood-Murdock (5-2) and Ashland-Greenwood (0-4) Thursday night in pool play. Malcolm will see Centennial (3-3) and Milford (2-2) Saturday morning. The other pool includes top teams like No. 2 Lincoln Lutheran (3-1), Columbus Scotus (6-1) and Fairbury (3-0).
