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MCCOOK, Neb. – The Seward County Community College volleyball team opened its season Thursday with a 3-1 loss to McCook Community College (26-28, 21-25, 25-23, 25-27) at the Peter & Dolores Graff Events Center.

The loss marked Seward’s third consecutive season-opening defeat.

The Saints (0-1) continue play Friday at the North Platte CC Tournament, facing Gillette at 1:30 p.m. and Southeast CC at 6:30 p.m. at North Platte’s McDonald-Belton Gymnasium.

Just 10 points separated the teams across the four-set match.

Special to the Leader & Times

The Seward County Community College volleyball team is gearing up for its 2026 slate with the home opener on Monday, Aug. 31, against Hutchinson.

Just a few days before the home opener, Seward will host a Meet The Team event at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in The Greenhouse.

The community event gives fans a chance to get up close with the 2026 Seward County volleyball team in a fun and interactive atmosphere. Whether you’re a lifelong Saints supporter, a young volleyball player, or just looking for a great family activity, there’s something for everyone.

EARL WATT

   • Leader & Times

When Marc Svaty was an assistant for the Liberal Redskins, he worked with some coaches that have become some of the most successful names in Redskin history — Cornelsen, Werner, Schroeder.

Since then, he has taken what he learned to develop his own programs and has now returned to Liberal to take the helm of the Angry Red program.

“It is a great day to be a Redskin,” Svaty said after completing the first fun run in 105-degree heat on Kansas Avenue Thursday. “It’s great to be back in Liberal. It’s been a whirlwind. We got here in May, we’ve been to a  team camp in Hays, seven on seven in Garden City — we have a competitive group coming back. We have done about as much as you could fit in with our kids.”

EARL WATT

   • Leader & Times

A wild pitch in the seventh inning may have led to the winning run for the Hutchinson Monarchs over the Liberal Bee Jays, but it was a play earlier in the game that may have the Bee Jays regretting a missed opportunity at the NBC World Series in Wichita.

Liberal bowed out in ninth place after losing 2-1 to the Monarchs in the first round of bracket play.

The defensive battle made every base runner critical, and the Bee Jays had several runners early.

The Bee Jays had two runners on in the second  inning, but Noah Giovannelli was stranded at third when Seth Green struck out to end the inning.