Homecoming is in full swing at both Langford Area and Britton-Hecla this week.

At festivities on Sunday, Langford Area crowned their 2026 Homecoming King and Queen. Brynn Samson (daughter of Krissa and Stuart Samson) was named queen and Hunter Jensen, (son of Kelly and Bill Jensen) was crowned king. 

Jace Rein, son of Samantha Rein and Tony Tilma, and Maddi Micko, daughter of Sandi and Aaron Micko, were crowned Britton-Hecla Homecoming king and queen Tuesday night during the traditional pep fest, complete with the annual burning of the B-H. 

At Britton-Hecla, Homecoming is being celebrated with a “Decades” theme. Thursday evening will feature a Braves volleyball match against Redfield, giving fans an opportunity to get into the Homecoming spirit before Friday’s activities.

Friday will begin with the traditional Britton-Hecla Homecoming Parade at 1 p.m. Entries should line up on Fifth Street near Ninth Avenue by 12:45 p.m. The parade will travel south on Main Street to Vander Horck Avenue, west to 13th Avenue and then north before disbanding. Participants will sign a school release waiver as they pass Fifth Street and Main Avenue.

The Homecoming festivities will continue Friday evening when the Britton-Hecla football team hosts Great Plains Lutheran at 7 p.m.

Langford Area’s Homecoming Week, centered around the food-themed “Lions Eat the Competition” theme, will also reach its final days Thursday and Friday.

Thursday will feature Class Colors Day followed by an afternoon pep fest at the school. The final day of Homecoming activities will be Friday, with Lion Pride Day and the Homecoming Parade at 1 p.m.

Langford Area will wrap up its Homecoming celebration Friday evening with the 7 p.m. football game. 

SEE FULL STATS IN THIS WEEK'S JOURNAL

Ab. Christian 25-25-25
LA 14-19-15
    Aberdeen Christian rolled to a straight-set win over the Lady Lions.
    “This was a tough loss,” said Larson.  “We had a hard time finding our rhythm.  They are a tough team and we struggled to keep consistent momentum on our side. We did play very well at times and will work on that consistency.”
    Lizzie Gustafson had five kills and 18 digs and Josie Jensen added five kills.
    SERVING:  LA, 45-50, 4 aces (Alex Darling 10-11, 1 ace; Lizzie Gustafson 9-9, 1 ace; Emily Olson 10-11)
    HITTING: LA, 79-97. 18 kills (Gustafson 18-21, 5 kills; Josie Jensen 11-13, 5 kills; Olson 18-21, 2 kills; Brooke Dwight 17-22, 3 kills; Autumn Wegleitner 4-7, 2 kills)
    SETTING: LA, 89-89, 16 assists (Brooklynn West 33-33, 8 assists; Bailey Dwight 46-46, 6 assists)
    BLOCKS: LA, 10 (Jensen 3, Brooke Dwight 2, Olson 2)
    DIGS: LA, 73 (Gustafson 18, Darling 15, Olson 10, Bailey Dwight 10)

LA 26-24-25-25
F-H 24-26-17-17
    After splitting a pair of 26-24 battles in the first two sets LA settled in to post a pair of 25-17 wins.
    “We had a good night,” noted Larson.  “The girls really battled and never really spiraled out of momentum. If we lost a point or two the team stayed focused and rallied back. 
    “The first two sets were so close and we never gave up. Sometimes after losing a tough set, you can lose too much momentum going into the next set, and I’m so proud that they didn’t let that happen,” Larson added.  “They came out in the third set ready to play.  It was a good win!”
    Gustafson led the Lady Lions with 36 digs and 15 kills and was also 19-22 with three aces at the service line.  Bailey Dwight contributed 20 assists.
    SERVING: LA, 83-96, 7 aces (Lizzie Gustafson 19-22, 3 aces; Emily Olson 19-21, 2 aces; Brooklynn West 12-15, 1 ace; Bailey Dwight 12-13, 1 ace; Alex Darling 13-13)
    HITTING: LA, 174-199, 45 kills (Gustafson 47-55, 15 kills; Josie Jensen 26-30, 9 kills; Olson 29-33, 7 kills; Brooke Dwight 33-37, 6 kills; Bailey Dwight 17-18, 5 kills; Autumn Wegleitner 15-17, 3 kills)
    SETTING: LA, 170-171, 40 assists (Bailey Dwight 88-89, 20 assists; West 60-60, 16 assists; Wegleitner 11-11, 1 assist)
    BLOCKS: LA, 4 (Olson 2)
    DIGS: LA, 112 (Gustafson 36, Olson 18, Brynn Samson 16, Darling 13, West 13, Brooke Dwight 10)

SEE ALL THE GAME STATS IN THIS WEEK'S JOURNAL

SEE FULL STATS IN THIS WEEK'S JOURNAL

SEE FULL STATS IN THIS WEEK'S JOURNAL
 

The building, which had previously housed the Prayer Rock Museum and later a bistro, became home to The Painted Past, an upcycled furniture store Waletich opened after purchasing the property. When her sister, Erin Pruitt, moved back to the area, the two began working together, with Waletich offering painting classes and Pruitt making signs. Then they had an idea.
 

“We thought a coffee house would add to the ambiance,” Waletich said. The coffee shop was added to The Painted Past about eight years ago. On its first day, the business sold 75 coffees, giving the sisters an early indication they had found something the community wanted. “We knew we had something,” Waletich said.

After the success of the coffee side of the business, The Painted Past evolved into Cups, the coffee shop and gathering place it is today. What started simply with coffee, matcha, iced drinks and energy drinks has continued to grow over the years. Cups now offers baked goods, lunch, breakfast, specialty coffees, iced coffee, smoothies, protein shakes, Lotus and Plant Pop energy drinks and other beverages.

Much of that growth has come from listening to customers. 

THIS IS A SPONSORED STORY. TO READ THE FULL STORY, SEE THIS WEEK'S JOURNAL OR CALL TO BECOME AN ONLINE SUBSCRIBER AT 605-448-2281

2026 State Fair Results
    Aerospace & Rocketry: Rylan Carlson- Blue.
    Beef Education: Treyton Biel- Blue; Jasmine Biel- Blue; Kaylee Biel- Blue; Kaylee Carlson- Blue; Rylee Carlson- Purple; Rylan Carlson- Blue; Briggs Hagen- Purple; Tripp Hagen- Purple.
    Character Education: Emily Effling- Blue; Annalie Satterlee- Purple.
    Citizenship: Skylar Bender- Purple; Rhyker Bender- Blue; Jacey Melroe- Purple.
    Clothing & Textiles: Jasmine Biel- Purple; Ruth Moeckly- Purple.
    Community Service: Emily Effling- Blue; Ruth Moeckly- Purple.
    Computers & Technology: Kaylee Carlson- Blue; Olivia Effling- Purple.
    Drama & Theatre Arts: Baylee Bender- Purple.
    Electricity: Maddie Biel- Purple; Luzetta Moeckly- Purple.
    Entomology & Bees: Ruth Moeckly- Blue; Baylee Bender- Purple.
    First Aid: Paxtyn Cole- Purple; Olivia Effling- Purple; Jacey Melroe- Purple; Luzetta Moeckly- Purple.
    Fitness & Sports: Rylee Carlson- Purple; Emily Effling- Purple; Emmett Symens- Blue.
    Food Preservation: Rhyker Bender- Blue; Skylar Bender- Blue; Aleece Patterson- Blue.
    Food & Nutrition: Colton Biel- Purple; Maddie Biel- Blue; Treyton Biel- Blue; Baylee Bender- Purple; Skylar Bender- Purple.
    Graphic Design: Luzetta Moeckly- Blue.
    Health: Emily Effling- Purple.
    Hobbies & Collections: Kaylee Carlson- Purple; Rylan Carlson- Purple; Rylee Carlson- Purple; Briggs Hagen- Purple x2; Tripp Hagen- Purple x3; Gianna Nordquist- Purple; Eliana Satterlee- Purple.
    Home Environment: Ruth Moeckly- Blue; Luzetta Moeckly- Blue; Jacey Melroe- Blue; Kaylee Carlson- Purple.
    Leadership Skills Development: Gianna Nordquist- Purple.
    Music: Rhyker Bender- Purple; Gianna Nordquist-Purple; Emily Effling- Purple; Olivia Effling- Purple; Aleece Patterson- Purple.
    Photography: Rhyker Bender- Purple; Elise Biel- Redx4, Bluex2; Kaylee Biel- White, Blue x4; Jasmine Biel- Redx2, Blue; Cheyenne Braaten- Bluex2; Kade Braaten- Blue; Maddie Biel- Bluex2; Hollis Cameron- Blue, Purple x2; Paxtyn Cole- Purple; Briggs Hagen- Purple; Tripp Hagen-Purple; Luzetta Moeckly- Red, Blue; Ruth Moeckly- Blue; Aleece Patterson- Blue; Sophie Patterson- Red.
    Poultry & Eggs: Maddie Biel- Purple; Briggs Hagen- Blue; Tripp Hagen- Red; Josiah Satterlee- Purple; Jasmine Biel- Purple.
    Veterinary Science: Jacey Melroe- Purple.
    Visual Arts: Kaylee Carlson- Purple, Blue; Rylee Carlson- Purple; Annalie Satterlee- Purple; Ruth Moeckly- Purple; Jacey Melroe- Purple; Eliana Satterlee- Purple x2; Linnea Satterlee- Purple.
    Welding Science: Tru Hagen- Purple; Tuf Hagen- Blue.
    Wood Science: Tru Hagen- Blue; Tuf Hagen- Purple; Skylar Bender- blue; Rylan Carlson- Blue; Olivia Effling- Blue; Jacey Melroe- Blue; Sophie Patterson- Blue.
    Workforce Preparation: Baylee Bender- Purple.

Youth In Action
    Fashion Revue: Rhyker Bender- Purple; Elise Biel- Purple; Jasmine Biel- Blue; Kaylee Biel- Blue.
    Communications: Baylee Bender- Purple; Rhyker Bender- Purple; Skylar Bender- Purple; 
Emily Effling- Purple; Kaylee Biel- Blue.
    CDM Judging: Baylee Bender- First Overall Senior; Skylar Bender- Third Overall, Junior; Cheyenne Braaten- 13th Place, Senior; Kade Braaten- 12th Place, Junior.
 

Livestock
    Breeding Beef: Jaxen Melroe – Reserve Champion Any Other Breed; Market Beef: Jaxen Melroe – Grand Champion Shorthorn Steer; True Hagen – Purple; Tuf Hagen – Purple.
    Poultry: Tripp Hagen – Reserve Continental Pullet, Continental Blue; Briggs Hagen – Feather Legged Bantam Blue.
    Breeding Sheep: Emma Ceroll – Grand Champion Suffolk Ewe, Suffolk Ewe Purple, Breeding Sheep Showmanship Purple; Izabell Ceroll – Suffolk Ewe Purple, & 4th Overall Junior Breeding Sheep Showmanship.

    This is Part Two of a two-part series about three local homeschool families from the Britton area.
    For the Petersen, O’Brien and Rapkoch families, homeschooling is about much more than completing a certain number of assignments each day.
    It is about finding out how each child learns, allowing room for interests and activities, and making education part of everyday family life.
    That does not mean the families simply leave academic progress to chance.
    The O’Brien family of rural Britton uses standardized testing every year or every other year to make sure the children are progressing and to identify areas that may need more attention. “I want to make sure we’re not missing things,” Mom Ann O’Brien said.
    The Petersens of Britton have taken a different approach. Mom Taryn works with her children every day and can see firsthand what they understand and where they need more help.
    “I can look at their work and see that they’re getting what they need at the appropriate grade level,” she said.
    While standardized tests are available, the Petersens currently feel their time is better spent elsewhere.
    Mary Rapkoch uses standardized testing every other year as another tool for evaluating her children’s progress.
    She does not consider testing a perfect measurement, but believes it can point out areas to work on. She also sees value in preparing children for a skill they are likely to encounter later in life.
    “Standardized testing does not give the perfect metric,” Mary said, “but it does help to point out some things to work on.”
    That attention to individual needs also extends beyond academics.
    The Petersen boys are involved in youth baseball, basketball and football. Dad Erik said socialization was one of the concerns he initially had about homeschooling, but his children have plenty of opportunities to interact with other kids.
    The O’Brien children participate in sports, plays, community service, church activities and volunteering. After COVID, organized sports became more important to the family, particularly after changes in state law made it possible for homeschooled students to participate.
    “If we are going to be part of an activity, we make that a priority,” Ann said. 
    That can mean adjusting school around the activity. If the family is traveling to a track meet, for example, some schoolwork may be completed in the car.
    The Rapkoch children are similarly busy. They participate in 4-H shooting sports, baseball and softball, swimming and hunting. They also have plenty of opportunities to pursue their own interests, including a butterfly garden they were eager to show off.
    Mary said the family does have to learn when to say no.
    “If we consider doing something or are asked to do something, we look at it and evaluate how that commitment would affect the schooling,” she said.
    The families also push back against one of the most common perceptions about homeschooling: that homeschooled children are isolated or socially awkward.
    The O’Briens are part of a local homeschool group and take part in activities such as trips to the zoo, Sica Hollow and Storybook Land.
    “We’re social,” Ann said, noting that her children also have opportunities to interact through sports, church and other activities.
    The Petersens say their children enjoy being part of teams and meeting other kids.
    For the Rapkochs, being homeschooled does not mean staying home all day. The family is active in the community and has found that homeschooling provides opportunities to expose their children to a wide range of experiences.
    The families acknowledge that homeschooling has challenges, particularly when several children need attention at the same time.
    Ann described it as sometimes feeling like a “one-room schoolhouse.” Keeping everyone focused can be difficult, especially during the busy seasons of planting and harvest for their family.
Mary said one of the biggest challenges is helping others understand that homeschooling is a significant commitment.
    “We take this seriously,” she said. “We are busy. We dedicate a lot of time for school.”
    For the Petersens, the challenge is finding a balance between running a household, keeping children challenged and managing the different seasons of family life.
    But all three families say the flexibility of homeschooling has become one of its greatest benefits.
    The O’Briens can set aside the schedule when family circumstances require it. The Petersens can travel during less busy times and turn trips into learning experiences. “We are travelers,” Taryn Petersen said. “We want to show them how to travel, how to act, travel during non-peak times, get to do it, provide them with great experiences.”
    The Rapkochs recently made an exception to their routine to take the family to a Twins game. And with their efficient schedule, they often finish the school year by late April or May, giving them additional flexibility.
    The families also see everyday tasks as part of their children’s education. Cooking, cleaning, shopping, budgeting and other life skills become lessons in their own right.
    For the Rapkochs, the goal is to provide a faith-based education while raising their children in a small-town environment and exposing them to art, beauty and experiences beyond their community.
    The Petersen family describes its goal as raising lifelong learners who have a love of education.
    And while the families currently see homeschooling as the best choice for their children, none considers the decision set in stone.
    The Petersens plan to make future decisions based on what is best for each child. The O’Briens continue to reevaluate their choice each year, while also seeing that homeschooling can accommodate increasingly advanced classes. The Rapkochs hope to eventually incorporate college classes as their children get older and prepare them for higher education.
    For all three families, homeschooling is not about making a statement or suggesting that one form of education is right for everyone.
    “It’s what works for our family,” Erik Petersen said.
    Mary agrees that homeschooling is not necessarily for every family, but believes people should not be afraid to ask questions.
    “If you have questions, if you want to know about homeschooling, never hesitate to ask,” she said. “It’s not upsetting to me if people ask what we do and how we do it.”
    There are plenty of resources available, the families said, and connecting with other homeschooling parents can be especially helpful.
    Ultimately, each family has found its own version of what homeschooling looks like, adjusting schedules, curriculum and activities to fit the children in front of them.
    As Mary put it, the goal is not simply to teach a collection of subjects, but to teach the whole person. And as this school year gets into full swing, it seems that all three families are accomplishing that well. 
 

    Langford Area put up a battle but perennial power Northwestern managed a sweep over the Lady Lions.
    Bailey Dwight led the way at the service line with four aces and added six assists and Lizzie Gustafson pounded down five kills and had 15 digs.
    “We played three good sets against Northwestern,” said Larson.  “We got better as the night wore on and I’m really proud of how the girls battled and made adjustments. They were able to adjust to a faster pace. It’s always fun to be challenged and I like how they stepped up. We didn’t get a win but I hope it raised some of our confidence levels and was a fun night of volleyball.”

LA 25-25-25
L-F 21-10-15

    Langford Area prevailed in a tight opening set and then rolled to a sweep over Leola-Frederick.
    “Great matches last night with the JV also winning 25-18, 26-24,” said Larson.  “We had an outstanding serving night - aggressive and consistent.  Brooke Dwight has a really aggressive serve and served really well.  We were also able to run a more aggressive offense and the girls hit pretty well with Lizzie Gustafson having a really great night at the net with 11 kills.”
    Dwight hit 20-21 service attempts and had six aces, while Gustafson was a perfect 28-28 at the net with her 11 kills.  Brooklynn West added 16 assists and Alex Darling 15 digs. 

FOR FULL STATS, SEE THIS WEEK'S JOURNAL 

    The Britton-Hecla volleyball squad rolled to its third straight win with a sweep at Tri-State last week Tuesday but then dropped its first match of the season at home to Webster Area in four sets on Thursday.
    The Lady Braves are back in action against Deuel in Clear Lake on Thursday and play at Langford Area on Monday.
    “Tri-state was a pretty easy win, but Webster was a tough loss,” said B-H coach Jenna Peters.  “The girls played hard and we were able to see our areas of weakness.  We always have things to work on but tough losses tell us a lot.
    “Unforced errors caused our loss,” Peters noted.  “Our offense kept them out of system most of the sets but we weren’t always able to capitalize due to those errors.  We will work hard all week at practice and be ready for Deuel on Thursday.”   
B-H 25-25-26
Tri-State 7-15-9

    Britton-Hecla rolled to a sweep over Tri-State.
    Chellon Pruitt had a big night at the service line, hitting a perfect 24 of 24 and hammering 11 aces.  Maddi Micko led the way at the net with 10 kills on 16-21 tries.  

Webster Area 15-25-25-25
B-H 25-16-23-19

    Despite an uncharacteristic seven missed serves the Lady Braves took the first set against Webster Area, but the Bearcats battled back to take the next three for their third win in four starts.
    The opener was tied at 13-all but B-H went on a 7-0 run behind Daynika Zuehlke’s six straight serves and kills from Jaelee Grupe and Koryn Jones to take charge.
    The second set was a reversal.  After a 14-14 tie, Webster Area was the one that went on a 7-1 run to even the match.  Set three was a seesaw affair.  The Bearcats led just 11-10 before reeling off a 9-2 run, taking advantage of a couple more missed serves, for a 20-12 lead.  But the Lady Braves made things interesting, outscoring the visitors 13-3, sparked by four straight serves from Zuehlke and three kills from Maddi Micko, to knot the contest at 23-all before Webster scored the final two points.
    The Bearcats took charge midway through the final set, stretching an 11-8 advantage to 22-13, and the Lady Braves didn’t have an answer.
FOR FULL STATS, SEE THIS WEEK'S JOURNAL 

    This is part one in two-part series about local homeschooling families. 
    For some local families, ‘back to school’ looks a little different
    When students at Britton-Hecla and Langford Area schools headed back to the classroom this fall, they were not the only local children getting back into a school routine.
    For three Britton-area families, “back to school” means opening textbooks at the kitchen table, logging into an online lesson, working one-on-one with Mom or heading outside for a break before getting back to schoolwork.
    Homeschooling looks different for every family, and that is part of the appeal for Erik and Taryn Petersen, Ann and Nate O’Brien, and Mary and Victor Rapkoch. Each family has found its own way to make homeschooling work, based on the needs, interests and personalities of their children.
    South Dakota gives homeschooling families considerable flexibility. Parents do not have to hold teaching credentials, there is no required number of instructional days or hours, and standardized testing is not required. Families are required to provide instruction in at least language arts and mathematics.
    For the Petersens, homeschooling was a decision rooted in wanting to spend more time with their children and provide an education tailored to them. 
    Taryn Petersen had been homeschooled herself until high school, so she was familiar with the idea. When the family moved to Britton, she and Erik wanted to spend more time with their children.
    Their oldest son, Max, now a third grader, was also a factor. He was an eager student who had shown an interest in learning from a young age. “We wanted to meet him where he was at academically,” Taryn said.
    The Petersens also approach education as more than academics. They want to consider the “whole person,” focusing on what they describe as “body, mind and spirit.” Erik was initially more skeptical about homeschooling. Taryn was more familiar with it and more inclined to give it a try.
    “Now I couldn’t imagine doing it any other way,” Erik said.
    Their school days are flexible, and that flexibility is one of the things the Petersens appreciate most.
    When it comes to curriculum, the Petersens use a variety of publishers and programs rather than relying on one curriculum for every child. Taryn said one of the benefits of homeschooling is being able to find what works best for each student.     “Not everyone learns the same way,” she said.
    Max, for example, does well with different types of curriculum and does not need as much lecturing or repetition. If he understands a concept, the family can move on rather than waiting for the rest of a classroom to catch up. Other subjects may require more time and attention.
    Their kindergarten son, Blaise, might begin the morning with literature, science, religion and art. Max works independently at times and works one-on-one with Taryn in the afternoon. If the boys become restless, they can go outside and run around before returning to their lessons.
    “I know that little boys don’t sit well for long stretches and need to be running around and playing,” Taryn said. The family has been surprised by how efficiently schoolwork can be completed at home.
    The O’Brien family has approached homeschooling in their own way.
    Ann and her husband, Nate, live near the South Dakota-North Dakota border with their five children: Joseph, 15; Benny, 13; Hezekiah, 11; Isaac, 10; and Elizabeth, 7.
    Both parents attended public school, and Joseph initially attended kindergarten at Britton-Hecla. But the family eventually felt they were being called by God to homeschool.
    “It was a tough decision,” Ann said. “I thought he might be back in school the next week.”
    Instead, homeschooling quickly proved to be a good fit. Joseph was able to move efficiently through his work, and the family has continued to reevaluate the decision each year.
    Their school day begins at about 8 a.m. The younger children generally complete about three hours of work, while the older two may work until 2 p.m. Some lessons are taught online, while others involve books and direct instruction from Ann or Nate.
    The O’Briens have also learned that finding the right curriculum can be a process. Early in their homeschooling experience, Ann attended a homeschool meeting in Fargo and conventions where she could learn about different learning styles and the many curriculum options available.
    “We switched curriculum for the different students,” she said, noting that the flexibility allows them to find an approach that works for each child.
    The children also help one another. “They don’t all learn the same way,” Ann said. “Some easily understand a concept and some don’t.”
    That means Ann can adjust the pace and approach for each child. The older children can also help the younger ones, giving them another opportunity to reinforce what they have learned.
    The Rapkoch family takes a similarly individualized approach, although with an even larger household.
    Mary and Victor Rapkoch have eight children, with Rosalyn, 12; Faustina, 11; Becket, 9; Zelie, 7; and Siena, 5, among those currently at school age.
    Mary was homeschooled from kindergarten through 12th grade, while Victor attended public school. By the time they started their own family, homeschooling was a clear choice.
    “It was nonnegotiable for me to homeschool,” Mary said. “Victor, too, has become very passionate about it as we have done it.”
    The family had already decided to homeschool before moving to the Britton area, so the quality of the local schools was not a deciding factor. Rather, Mary said the goal was always to provide a curriculum that was “Catholic-saturated.”
    The family began with a Catholic curriculum company when their oldest daughter was in preschool and has built their approach from there. Mary said she is comfortable substituting different materials when she feels another resource would work better for a particular child.
    Their mornings begin with prayer before the children split off to work at different levels. The older children are increasingly independent, using online resources and working through subjects such as science, writing, Latin, math and English.
    The younger children require more one-on-one attention. Mary may find herself sitting between two children, helping one while working with another. “You just have to roll with the punches,” she said.
    For all three families, that flexibility is a major part of what makes homeschooling work. Instead of trying to make every child fit the same schedule or learning style, the parents can adjust the education to the child.
    And for these families, school is not necessarily confined to a desk or a particular set of hours. A lesson can happen at home, in the car, outside or while traveling.
    As the school year gets underway, the three families are continuing a routine that works for them, while remaining willing to adapt as their children grow.
    Part Two will look at how the families measure academic progress, balance homeschooling with activities and sports, address socialization and misconceptions, and look toward the future.

B-H 25-25-25
L-F 14-11-7

    The Lady Braves started fast in all three sets against Leola-Frederick and never allowed the Titans to mount a serious challenge.
    B-H led 13-6 in the opening set, led by a pair of kills from both Jaelee Grupe and Daynika Zuehlke.  Maddi Micko added a couple of kills down the stretch and Grupe a couple of aces to keep the visitors at bay.
    The local netters jumped out to a 14-4 start in the second set.  Grupe had a pair of kills and two aces and Airiana Buer came up with two ace serves to spark the early run and Chellon Pruitt pounded two kills in the late going.
    The Lady Braves made things even tougher on the Titans in set three, grabbing a 17-3 lead.  Pruitt started a 6-0 run with a block and then served five straight, and Grupe served six straight.
    Britton-Hecla came up with 18 service aces and 34 kills in the match.  Grupe ended up with eight service aces, seven kills, and 22 assists; Micko led B-H at the net with nine kills, and Kennady Van Lith had 13 digs.
    
B-H 25-25-25
Tiospa Zina 8-11-8

    Britton-Hecla limited Tiopsa Zina to single figure scoring in two of the three sets.
    The Lady Braves hit 96% of its service attempts with 17 aces, led by Zuehlke with 13-14 and seven aces.  Zuehlke and Maddi Micko led the squad at the net with seven kills apiece.  Grupe had 20 assists and Van Lith seven digs.  

 FOR FULL STATS SEE THIS WEEK'S JOURNAL 

LA 25-25-28-25
Waverly-SS 12-23-30-22
    Langford Area opened its fall season with a hard-fought win over Waverly-South Shore.
    The Lady Lions pounded down 29 kills, led by Lizzie Gustafson with eight and Emily Olson and Josie Vander Vorst with six each.  Bailey Dwight dished out 18 assists and Gustafson added 24 digs.

Estelline Tourney

Estelline.-Hend. 23-25-25
LA 25-20-23

    The Lady Lions took the opening set but Estelline-Hendricks battled back with wins in a pair of nail-biters to take the match.
    Gustafson had 10 kills and Olson eight as LA again came up with 29 kills .  Bailey Dwight had 15 assists and eight digs.

LA 25-25
Wilmot 16-11

    LA rolled to a sweep over Wilmot.
    Olson and Bailey Dwight were both perfect at the service line and combined for seven aces.  Dwight also led with six assists and 12 digs.  

LA 25-25
Waverly-SS 16-19

    Langford Area dominated Waverly-South Shore after going four sets in the regular season opener.
    Gustafson again led at the net with eight kills and also led in the dig department with 14.  Brooklynn West contributed 11 assists.  

    FOR FULL STATS, SEE THIS WEEK'S JOURNAL