Pender goes 1-2 at Clarkson/Leigh Tournament; tops Tekamah-Herman

The Pender Pendragons went 1-2 at the Clarkson/Leigh Tournament on Saturday, beating Oakland-Craig 2-1 before losing 2-0 to David City Aquinas and 2-1 to Clarkson/Leigh.

Pender came back on Tuesday and beat Tekamah-Herman 3-2 at home Tuesday night.

The Monarchs beat the Pendragons 25-16 in the first set, and 25-18 in the second set.

The Patriots won set one over Pender, 25-13, and took set three 25-23. The Pendragons won the middle set, 25-23.

Tekamah-Herman won set one over the Pendragons 25-19. Pender earned a 25-16 win in set two, and won set three 25-19 to go up 2-1. The Tigers won set four 25-22 before the Pendragons prevailed in set five, 15-10.

Pender has been up and down this season, but when the Pendragons are on, they are on.

Pender (9-10) travels to Homer (8-12) on Tuesday to take on the Knights.

Homer lost 3-0 at home to Dakota Valley, SD this past Tuesday.

Nothing really stands out as far as one team having an advantage over the other, at least when looking at the schedule.

The match being in Homer should be to the Knights' favor, but the Pendragons have won at home and away this year so I don't think going on the road really phases Pender in any way.

I look for the Pendragons to come out swinging and ready to go.

I think you will see an aggressive Pender team take the floor on Tuesday. A team hungry and ready to make a run before season's end.

The Pendragons have quite a few tough, but winnable matches left before the postseason.

Having success against the Knights and in the East Husker Conference Tournament could very well go a long ways in dictating success for Pender in their matches after next week.

It's time for the Pendragons to get things going, and I think Pender started doing that against Tekamah-Herman.

Now it's a matter of the Pendragons doing that again against Homer and in the East Husker Conference Tournament.

Next week is a big week for Pender Volleyball, and I fully expect the Pendragons to step up and perform well.

These matches over the next couple of weeks are going to define Pender's season, in my opinion.

There has to be a sense of urgency and purpose among the team. The Pendragons have to step up and play their best volleyball of the season from here on out.