Kari Gibb/MDN Newburg-Westhope senior Giovanna Zettell (12) attacks at the net facing South Prairie-Max juniors Skotti Beck (21) and Abby Mikkelson (16) in non-region Class B volleyball action on Tuesday, September 10, at South Prairie High School.

The Eagles girls volleyball team sits atop region 6, district 11 at 5-2 going into the match at South Prairie high school last night. The Royals are atop region 6, district 12 at 8-0 going into the game. Both teams played aggressively at the net and both teams recovered well from kill attempts.

In the end, the home team had more aces than the visiting Eagles, giving the Royals the win and maintaining the unbeaten record.

South Prairie-Max built an early lead in the first frame and used the cushion to take the 25-15 win. In the second frame, the Newburg-Westhope Eagles had the lead in the early going that prompted a home timeout. The same scenario played out in the mid-section of the second frame with a lead change and a timeout. The battle went back and forth with the home team edging the visitors 25-21 for a 2-0 lead heading into the third frame.

The third frame began and ended the same as the second, with the same 25-21 score in the end. For the Royals, juniors Skotti Beck and Abby Mikkelson each had two blocks and seven and five kills respectively. Senior Delaney Hankel added eight digs in the match.

South Prairie-Max senior Azjiah Trader started the game needing 15 kills to reach the 1,000 kill mark for her career. Azjiah ended the game with 12 kills, leaving the record for the next game. Freshman Reagan Trudell was an anchor with 35 assists and six of the aces in service that kept the Royals out in front.

The Eagles were led by stellar net play by senior Giovanna Zettell, sophomore Macy Bryans and fellow senior Ashley Tabarez in the game.

The Royals travel to the Kenmare-Bowbells Honkers on Thursday, September 12, while the Eagles face Glenburn the same day.