Cozad Sweeps Sutherland and Maxwell - Wildcats Take Down Sailors in Three Sets
On Thursday, September 24, 2026, Maxwell hosted a triangular with Cozad and Sutherland in attendance.
The first match of the evening was Cozad and Maxwell.
Maxwell came out strong, leading 8-3 before a timeout was taken by Cozad. The Wildcats did an excellent job pressuring the service line and playing tough defense.
Maxwell kept up the strong play, taking a 10-5 lead. But then the Haymakers began to climb back into it. They tied things at 14-14, then eventually took a 19-15 lead before Maxwell took a time out. Cozad won the set, 25-16.
In the second set, Cozad jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Then extended it to 9-4, and then eventually 16-10. Maxwell took a time-out at that point. Cozad went on to win the set 25-16 once again and won the match, 2-0.
Stats are unofficial
For Cozad, Emersyn Propp had 16 kills and Braelyn Malcom had seven kills.
For Maxwell, Emory Christensen had nine kills.
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The second match of the evening was Cozad and Sutherland.
Early in the first set, it was tied up at 3-3. Cozad, though, built a 10-6 lead, and a timeout was taken by Sutherland. Cozad kept their foot on the throttle and led 18-9 as the Sailors took a timeout. Cozad was able to close out the set and win 25-9.
In the second set, Cozad was able to take control of the match as they got up 11-6 before a timeout was taken by Sutherland. Cozad continued to advance the lead, going up 15-10 and then 24-16. They closed out the set at 25-16 and won the match, 2-0.
Stats are unofficial
For Cozad, Emersyn Propp had 12 kills, and Braelyn Malcom had six kills.
For Sutherland, Kate Dyer had three kills.
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Then, for the final match of the night, it was Maxwell and Sutherland, and it was a thriller.
Maxwell jumped out to a 3-1 lead, but Sutherland took control. They jumped to 11-6 before the Wildcats had to take a timeout.
Maxwell climbed back into the match. Even though they were down 23-18 after a timeout by the Wildcats, they started to chip away at the lead. They got it to 23-20, and Sutherland took a timeout. The teams traded points until eventually Sutherland won 27-25.
In the second set, Sutherland jumped out to a four-point lead. They pushed it to 13-9, then 16 -13, before Maxwell called a timeout.
The Wildcats recovered with a 3-0 run to tie it at 16-16. Sutherland took a timeout then.
The Wildcats took the lead at 19-18. They captured the victory 25-21. So they went to a third and decisive set.
In the third set, Maxwell was able to jump out to an 8-5 lead, and Sutherland had to take the time out.
Maxwell extended their lead up to 17-12, and Sutherland had to take another time out; the Sailors, though, wouldn’t go away. They got it down to 18-17, and Maxwell had to take a time out. The teams battled back and forth, but eventually Maxwell took the set 25-22, and the match, 2-1.
Stats are unofficial
For Maxwell, Emory Christensen had 20 kills, and Ryan Kuenning had six kills.
For Sutherland, Kate Dyer had eight kills, Eliana Dyer had nine kills, Leah Harper had nine kills, and Rylee Kerner had eight kills.
We caught up with Emory Christensen and Madelynn Nelson after the match. Interviews are brought to you by Acme Printing Company.
Check out our highlights from the match. Highlights are brought to you by Prairie Girl Candle Company.
