Cougars collect two sweeps, strong tournament finish
The Central McLean Cougars added two more sweeps to their season résumé before testing themselves against a varied field at the Valley City Tournament.
Central McLean defeated Garrison and Wilton-Wing in straight sets during the week, then completed four rounds of tournament competition Saturday, Sept. 19, at the Valley City Hi-Liner Activity Center.
The Cougars began the week on the road Tuesday, Sept. 15, when they faced the Garrison Troopers. Central McLean came away with a 3-0 victory, continuing its strong start to District 8 competition.
The Cougars returned home Thursday, Sept. 17, to host Wilton-Wing and produced the same result. Central McLean earned another 3-0 victory, completing a pair of sweeps without surrendering a set.
Those wins allowed the Cougars to carry momentum into the weekend, when they encountered four different opponents during the Valley City Tournament.
Central McLean opened tournament play against Napoleon-Gackle-Streeter. The teams split their two sets, resulting in a 1-1 tie.
The Cougars faced Wahpeton in the second round and again finished with a split. Central McLean and Wahpeton each claimed one set for another 1-1 tie.
After opening with consecutive splits, the Cougars broke through with their strongest result of the tournament in the third round. Central McLean swept Barnes County North 2-0, earning its lone outright victory of the day.
The Cougars closed the tournament against host Valley City. Central McLean pushed the Hi-Liners to three sets but finished on the wrong side of a 2-1 decision.
Despite the final-round loss, the tournament provided the Cougars with an opportunity to compete against several opponents outside their usual district schedule. Central McLean played nine sets over four rounds, winning five of them.
The busy week left the Cougars with an 11-1 overall record and an unbeaten mark in both district and regional competition.