Terry Douglass, Central Nebraska Today
CAIRO — Class C-1 No. 6-rated (Omaha World-Herald) Minden got back on track Thursday night, sweeping the Centura Triangular with wins over Sandy Creek and host Centura.
The Whippets (18-6), who suffered a 3-1 home loss to Class C-1 top-rated Lincoln Lutheran on Tuesday, opened the evening with a commanding 25-13, 25-12 victory over Sandy Creek before fending off Class C-2 No. 10-rated Centura 27-25, 25-20.
Myla Emery was the driving force for Minden, tallying a combined 29 kills and 20 assists across both matches. The 5-foot-11 senior delivered in clutch moments, especially against Centura as she posted 12 kills and eight assists.
Trailing 22-20 in the first set against the Centurions (16-5), Minden surged with a 4-0 run. After falling behind 25-24, Emery assisted Aly Cederburg for a kill, Kaleigh Carr followed with another, and an attack error sealed the set for the Whippets.
Minden broke a 17-17 tie in the second set with an 8-3 run to close out the match. Cederburg added six kills and four blocks, while Victoria Hansen chipped in 12 assists.
Earlier, Emery notched 17 kills and 12 assists in the win over Sandy Creek (12-8). Hansen had 11 assists and Cederburg contributed six kills and three blocks.
Centura, which has dropped three of its last four after a 15-2 start, saw strong performances from Taya Taukiuvea and Emmarie Lutz, who each had seven kills against Minden. Kennedy Davis added six kills and Belle Taukiuvea finished with 19 assists.
Earlier, the Centurions posted a 25-15, 25-13 win over Sandy Creek. Taukiuvea led with nine kills and two blocks, Davis had eight kills and Ella Francl added six. Belle Taukiuvea dished out 24 assists.
For Sandy Creek, Emma Fisher had four kills and Katelyn Pohlmeier recorded 10 assists in the loss to Centura. Fisher tallied seven kills and Pohlmeier had nine assists against Minden.