High Plains senior Dakota Gress will be looking for her third consecutive trip to the Nebraska Girls State Championships. PCN file photo by Travis Lane.

In her final volleyball game in Cross County colors, Cougars senior Sydney Hengelfelt hammered 20 kills, 20 digs and one service ace, but the Cougars came up shirt in a 3-1 loss to Amherst in the opening round of the D1 State Tournament in Lincoln. PCN photos by Beth Sparrow.

Each week during the school year, the Polk County News will select a male and female Athlete of the Week.

The Shelby-RC Huskies defense made their presence known early in the game on Friday night as senior Coy Vrbka (22) blocks an attempted field goal by the Pender Pendragons in the first quarter. The Huskies moved the ball down the field and scored early in the second quarter and never looked back in their 28-6 win. PCN photo by Ken Kush.

As the playoffs wear on Shelby-RC, the cheerleaders have had to get creative with the signs the players break through at the start of each game. Here is the sign before the Pender game this past Friday night. PCN photo by Ken Kush.

Finley Peterson served an ace.

Each week during the school year, the Polk County News will select a male and female Athlete of the Week.

Left: Cross County volleyball team with their district winner plaque.

Cross County junior Ava Pruter (16) slams the attack into the Morrill Lions frontline defense during Saturday’s D1-4 final at Morrill High School. Pruter led the Cougars with 22 kills as Cross County earned their first state volleyball berth since 2022. Photo by Sandy Thompson.