Playing for third place at the Hanson Early Bird Invitational Thursday night, Aug. 24, the Freeman High School volleyball team lost to Avon 2 sets to 1, finishing the tournament — and starting the season — 1-2. Avon beat the Flyers 19-25, 25-15, 25-13.

Ashton Massey had 19 kills and 5 blocks, Ellyana Ulmer had 40 digs and Joslynn Fischer had 28 set assists and 4 aces to lead Menno past Centerville at Centerville in volleyball action Thursday night, Aug. 24. The Wolves came back from a 2 sets-to-1 deficit to win in five. Set scores were 21-25, 25-11, 22-25, 25-17, 15-7. In addition to Massey's strong play at the net, Menno saw 8 kills from Ulmer and Fischer each while Maggie Miller had 36 digs. Ulmer and McNinch both had a pair of blocks and Ulmer, Miller and Taylor Freier each had 2 aces.

Ashton Massey had 19 kills and 5 blocks, Ellyana Ulmer had 40 digs and Joslynn Fischer had 28 set assists and 4 aces to lead Menno past Centerville at Centerville in volleyball action Thursday night, Aug. 24. The Wolves came back from a 2 sets-to-1 deficit to win in five. Set scores were 21-25, 25-11, 22-25, 25-17, 15-7. In addition to Massey's strong play at the net, Menno saw 8 kills from Ulmer and Fischer each while Maggie Miller had 36 digs. Ulmer and McNinch both had a pair of blocks and Ulmer, Miller and Taylor Freier each had 2 aces.

Freeman Academy/Marion dropped matches against Sanborn Central/Woonsocket and Andes Central/Dakota Christian on the second and final night of the Hanson Early Bird Invitational in Alexandria Thursday, Aug. 24. The Bearcats lost to the Blackhawks 25-10, 26-25 and to the Thunder 25-22, 25-21 to fall to 0-3 on the season.

Freeman Academy/Marion dropped matches against Sanborn Central/Woonsocket and Andes Central/Dakota Christian on the second and final night of the Hanson Early Bird Invitational in Alexandria Thursday, Aug. 24. The Bearcats lost to the Blackhawks 25-10, 26-25 and to the Thunder 25-22, 25-21 to fall to 0-3 on the season.

Freeman Academy's soccer game at West Central originally scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 22, but moved to Thursday because of the high heat warning, has been moved once again. The Bobcats will now play the Trojans next week Thursday, Aug. 30. Temperatures are expected to remain in the mid-90s on Thursday before a graduate cool-down thereafter.

Volleyball teams from Freeman Academy/Marion, Freeman Public and Menno all started their 2023 seasons on the road Tuesday night, Aug. 22. The Bearcats and Flyers both played in Alexandria as part of the eight-team Hanson Early Bird Invitational while the Wolves traveled to Alcester-Hudson. Here's a quick closer look: BEARCATS

Because of the excessive heat in the forecast for Tuesday, Freeman Academy's scheduled soccer match at West Central has been postponed to Thursday, Aug. 24. Highs are Tuesday are expected to reach 104 degrees, with a heat index even higher.

Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy put up 50 points in the first half by scoring on every possession and the secondary players saw plenty of reps in the second half as the Phoenix opened their 2023 season with a 56-19 rout of Burke Friday night, Aug. 18 in Freeman. Only two big plays by Cougars — a kickoff return for a touchdown and a long touchdown pass — prevented the game from being over at halftime. More to come when final statistics are turned in.

Sioux Valley, the third-ranked team in Class 11B in the first 2023 South Dakota Football Coaches Association Poll, took down Scotland/Menno on the opening night of the new season Thursday, Aug. 17. The Cossacks beat the Trappers 42-0 by scoring seven points in the first quarter, 14 in the second, 13 in the third and eight in the fourth. Sioux Valley put up 398 rushing yards to Scotland/Menno's 73 and tallied 24 first downs to the Trappers' 4.