SOUTHERN VALLEY The Southern Valley volleyball team needed just seven sets to get its way through two wins and take the Subdistrict D1-10 Title. The Eagles took down Alma in four Monday night and swept past Loomis Tuesday to improve to 19-9 and advance to Saturday’s district championship, presumably at Bruning-Davenport-Shickley, although official pairings won’t be available until Thursday.

If you ever played baseball, you may have been told to “keep your eye on the ball.” When batting, a baseball player is taught to watch the ball the entire time from when it leaves the pitcher’s hand to when, hopefully, their bat smacks the ball for a hit. It may sound simple, but some pitchers can throw fast and sometimes they throw a curveball. Great hitters use their vision and spot the difference, helping them get a hit. Lose focus, and in the blink of an eye the pitch has whipped past them for a strike.

OVERTON - Could we see that again? The top two teams in Class D2, both in the State ratings and the NSAA point standings, squared off in the Subditrict D2-7 Title match Tuesday and it did not disappoint. Top-seeded Overton rallied after a sleepy start to wins sets two and three, but Cambridge - which hadn’t won a five-set match since 2017 - came back in the fourth, then dominated the fifth for a 25-23, 15-25, 22-25, 25-23, 15-8 victory over the Eagles, improving to 25-4 this season while Overton fell to 28-3.

On and off the court, Jaz Shelley is a star for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) basketball team. Jaz earned first-team All-Big Ten honors for her electric play. She earned Academic All-Big Ten honors for her work in the classroom. She’s beloved with fans and teammates alike. Like many players, she receives requests from businesses and nonprofits to lend her name, image, and likeness (NIL) in support of a local business or work a summer camp for kids. But unlike most of her teammates, Jaz is prohibited from saying yes to these opportunities. The reason? She’s from Australia. This week, I introduced legislation to give international student-athletes like Jaz access to the same NIL opportunities her teammates have.

BARTLEY - The Maywood- Hayes Center volleyball team grabbed its 15th win in Monday’s subdistrict opener, but saw its season come to a close in the finals against host Southwest on Tuesday. The Wolves had battled to defeat Brady in two previous meetings this season, but rolled to victory Monday, sweeping the Eagles with a 2517, 25-22, 25-16 victory.

BARTLEY - The Hi-Line volleyball team picked up its sixth win of the season, taking its subdistrict opener in straight-sets over Sandhills Valley Monday before falling in the second round of subdistricts against top-seeded Southwest.

WALLACE - After a busy and exhilirating night Monday, the Medicine Valley volleyball team saw its season come to a close Tuesday in the subdistrict finals against Wauneta-Palisade. The fourth-seeded Raiders (13-17) had knocked off both fifth-seeded Dundy County-Stratton (0-31) and top-seeded RPAC Runner-Up Wallace (264) Monday night and started fast against the Broncos (15-15) winning the first set by six.

Struggling to make meals with what you have on hand? Whether you’re wanting to make a favorite recipe but are missing some ingredients, or you’re tired of buying ingredients you only use once, these examples can help spark your imagination. Nebraska Extension Food & Health Educator Nancy Frecks based in Hitchcock County has some suggestions: Want to make sandwiches, but you’ve just eaten your last slice of bread? Use tortillas, bagels, pita breads, French bread, an English muffi n, rolls, focaccia, biscuits or a lettuce wrap instead.

EUSTIS - The third-seeded Hi-Line football team did a lot of the things a higher seed is supposed to do in taking down a lower-seeded, firstround opponent. The Bulls jumped on the visting Summerland Bobcats in the first half and enjoyed a 32-14 lead at the break.

SOUTHERN VALLEY - The Arapahoe volleyball team saw its season come to a close Monday night at the D1-10 Subdistrict Tournament. The Warriors had chances in each of the first three sets against fourth-seeded Alma (19-13), but ultimately dropped a 25-23, 22-25, 25-21, 25-16 decision to the Cardinals to see their season end at 7-17.