YODER – The Southeast High School Lady Cyclones wrapped up the 2025 regular season with a three-game winning streak over the weekend.
The action opened with the Lady Cyclones finding redemption against Lingle-Fort Laramie (LFL) in the second cross-county rivalry game on Thursday, October 23. Southeast swept the Lady Doggers, 25-18, 25-13 and 25-20.
Southeast hosted Pine Bluffs for Senior Recognition on Friday, October 24. The non-conference match went into four sets with the Lady Cyclones scoring the final victory, 3-1.
A conference showdown between Southeast and Niobrara County on Saturday culminated in a clean sweep for the Lady Cyclones.
“We had a fantastic weekend of volleyball,” coach Monica Anderson said. “This was a great weekend for us to prepare for postseason play and get a feel for where we are as a team. I felt like we started every match strong and together.”
The Lady Cyclones took advantage of their tight team chemistry.
“It is so encouraging to see all the girls having fun on the court – enjoying the game and enjoying each other,” Anderson added. “With this being the last week of the regular season, I would like to give a shoutout to our ‘C’ and JV teams – each girl exponentially improved in both their knowledge of the game and their skill sets.”
The victories against LFL and Niobrara County maintained the No. 1 position for the Lady Cyclones in the 1A Southeast Quadrant with 22-5 overall record and 51 points.
Up next is the 1A East regional tournament hosted by Buffalo on Friday and Saturday, October 31-November 1. Southeast opens the tournament with a game on Friday at 9 a.m. against the fourth seed from the Northeast, Arvada-Clearmont.
“We are going to take (regionals) one game at a time with our goal being to focus on the controllables and play our game,” Anderson said. “we have to continue to communicate loud, early and often and enjoy the game together because that’s when we play our best. We are gelling so well together on the court which is going to be a great asset for the postseason. Our focus this week in practice will be on refining our defense, swinging hard and keeping the fun in the game.”
Cross-county rivalry game
The first set between Southeast and LFL opened with a 9-4 run by the Lady Doggers.
Junior Bailey Mehling put a stop to LFL’s run with a block. Southeast matched the Lady Doggers in scoring at 11 following a pair of aces from junior Brylie Booth.
LFL pulled up, 12-11, before senior Hadley Leithead slammed a kill to tie the set at 12.
The Lady Doggers regained the lead, 13-12. The Lady Cyclones fired back with a kill from sophomore Briley Leithead while junior Haylee Ekwall and Hadley Leithead reached up for a block to place Southeast ahead, 15-14.
The Lady Cyclones maintained the advantage with a pair of kills by Booth. Briley Leithead spiked a kill for game point, 25-18.
Southeast kicked off the second set with a 4-2 run, including blocks by Hadley Leithead and Mehling and kills from Hadley Leithead and Ekwall.
LFL scored two points to tie the set at four. An error by the Lady Doggers allowed the Lady Cyclones to recapture the lead at five.
Southeast widened its lead, 12-4, when Booth delivered a pair of kills. The Lady Cyclones doubled LFL in scoring, 14-7, following a kill by Briley Leithead.
Hadley Leithead took Southeast to 21 with a kill. Ekwall followed with a kill and the Lady Cyclones reached 24.
Another kill by Booth resulted in game point, 25-13.
LFL scored the first point in the third set but Southeast responded with kills from Briley Leithead and Ekwall.
The Lady Cyclones went on an 8-3 run. Mehling slammed a kill, Hadley Leithead aced a serve and both Hadley Leithead and Briley Leithead defended the net with a block.
LFL came within one or two points of matching Southeast in scoring several times before the Lady Cyclones punched in a 7-2 run to clinch the set.
Two kills from Hadley Leithead placed Southeast up, 21-18. Booth aced a serve and Hadley Leithead blocked an attempt by LFL to score. Briley Leithead tipped a point for 24.
Hadley Leithead spiked a kill, assisted by senior Keana Llewellyn, for game point, 25-20.
Hadley Leithead paced the Southeast offense with eight kills. Briley Leithead and Booth both contributed six kills with two by Mehling.
Booth led on the serving line with three aces. Llewellyn started as setter and delivered 19 assists.
Hadley Leithead, Mehling and Booth reached up for three blocks.
Senior Taylor Tregemba served as libero throughout three sets and defended the backcourt with 11 digs.
Pine Bluffs
The Lady Cyclones cruised to victory in the first two sets, winning by wide margins, 25-13 and 25-16.
Pine Bluffs recovered to take the third set, 25-21.
Southeast fired back in the fourth set to win, 25-19.
Booth led the Southeast offense against Pine Bluffs with 12 kills. Hadley Leithead totaled nine kills, Mehling eight, Briley Leithead seven and Ekwall four.
Ekwall served four aces while Llewellyn passed for 33 assists.
Tregemba played libero with 16 digs. Mehling defended the net with five blocks.
Niobrara County
The Lady Cyclones scored a clean sweep against the Lady Tigers, 25-12, 25-11 and 25-20.
Booth and Hadley Leithead posted double-digit kills against Niobrara County with 12 and 11, respectively.
Ekwall contributed seven kills, Mehling six, Briley Leithead four and Llewellyn one.
Ekwall led on the service line with six aces while Llewellyn totaled five. Llewellyn also delivered 32 assists.
Tregemba defended the backcourt with nine digs while Hadley Leithead and Booth tallied two blocks.
