SOUTH WAYNE – Black Hawk continues to keep pace atop the Six Rivers East volleyball standings after wrapping up the first-half of the season with a sweep over Albany, and then starting off the second-half of conference play with another sweep over Monticello.

The Lady Warriors (12-4-1 overall) have won eight of their last nine matches, including four straight conference victories, to remain in second-place in the East with a 6-1 record behind Argyle (7-0).

At home, on Tuesday, Sept. 19, Coach Rachel Wolff’s squad used a strong performance at the service line and at the net to put away the visiting Albany Comets, 25-20, 25-15, 25-15, for a SRE sweep.

Sophomore Hannah Butler got the Warriors going in set one, recording two kills and firing three aces during a six-point service run to turn an early 1-3 deficit into an 8-4 lead.

The Comets (0-6) fought back to grab a 19-15 lead before the Warriors rose up to outscore them 10-1 down the stretch to take a 1-0 lead. Freshman Bailey Butler had three kills during junior Sydney Delzer’s seven-point run at the service line that put the hosts up 23-19.

B. Butler got the Warriors to game-point with another kill, and senior Cheyenne Stewart hammered home the game-winner to seal a 25-20 decision.

Delzer slammed home five kills to send the Warriors out to a quick 15-6 advantage in set two. Five other Warriors recorded kills in the set to keep the hosts comfortably in the lead before Delzer pounded down the game-winner to put Black Hawk up 2-0 with a 25-15 win.

The Warriors took control early in set three to cruise to the sweep. A tip kill by B. Butler put them up 7-5, and then junior Savanna Burmeister served up eight consecutive points with two aces to extend the lead to 15-5.

H. Butler, Delzer and senior Abby Argall each tallied two kills to bring the Warriors to the brink of another win, and Burmeister fired home an ace during her next turn at the service stripe to secure the set, 25-15, and the match, 3-0, for the Warriors.

B. Butler finished with 14 kills and two blocks, while Delzer registered 10 kills and three blocks and H. Butler added nine kills and three aces in the victory.

Burmeister led the team with four aces, and senior setter Hannah Herbst directed the offense by distributing a team-high 18 assists.

At Monticello, on Thursday, Sept. 21, the Lady Warriors ran their conference winning streak to four matches with a 25-6, 25-14, 25-19, sweep over the host Ponies (1-6).

H. Butler led the team with 10 kills, and B. Butler chipped in with nine kills and four aces.

Herbst tallied 15 assists, while Stewart recorded two blocks for Black Hawk.

  Black Hawk has a key SRE showdown at Argyle against the league-leading Orioles on Thursday, Sept. 28, and then returns home to host Pecatonica on Tuesday, Oct. 3. 

Albany…………..  20     15     15

Black Hawk…….  25     25     25

BH Leaders– Kills: Bailey Butler 14, Sydney Delzer 10, Hannah Butler 9. Blocks: Delzer 3, B. Butler 2. Assists:Hannah Herbst 18. Aces: Savanna Burmeister 4, H. Butler 3.

At South Wayne on Tuesday, Sept. 19

Black Hawk…….  25     25     25

Monticello………    6     14     19

BH Leaders– Kills: Hannah Butler 10, Bailey Butler 9. Blocks: Cheyenne Stewart 2. Assists: Hannah Herbst 15, Savanna Burmeister 6. Aces: B. Butler 4.

At Monticello on Thursday, Sept. 21