A month after falling to Superior in a hard-fought four-set battle, the Sutton Fillies had an opportunity to turn the tables on their conference opponent. This time, the Fillies made the most of it, sweeping Superior in straight-sets Thursday, Oct. 15, to claim fifth place in the Southern Nebraska Conference (SNC) volleyball tournament.
The two teams previously met Sept. 15, when Superior came away with a 3-1 victory in a competitive matchup that included several closely contested sets. When the teams met again exactly one month later, Sutton was ready for a different outcome.
The Fillies opened the rematch with a 25-20 victory before closing out the contest with a 25-21 win in the second set. The sweep secured fifth place in the conference tournament and improved Sutton’s season record to 16-12.
While Sutton claimed both sets, Superior didn’t make the victory easy. Just five points separated the teams in the opening set and four in the second. Unlike their September meeting, however, the Fillies were able to finish the match without surrendering a set.
Kamryn Steinhauer led Sutton’s offensive attack with an impressive allaround performance, recording a team-high eight kills on 22 attempts for a .318 hitting percentage. Steinhauer was particularly dangerous from the service line, delivering five aces to keep Superior on its heels. She also contributed three digs and a block assist, making her presence felt throughout the match.
Katie Baldwin provided another offensive weapon for the Fillies, finishing with six kills on just 11 attempts. Her .364 hitting percentage was among the team’s best, reflecting an efficient performance at the net. Baldwin also contributed a solo block and a block assist, helping Sutton defensively as well as offensively.
Julie Smith added two kills on six attempts for a .333 hitting percentage, along with a solo block and a block assist. Claire Trejo also contributed to the effort with a kill, a solo block and a block assist, giving Sutton additional support at the net.
One of the biggest factors in Sutton’s victory was its success from the service line. The Fillies combined for nine service aces in just two sets, accounting for nearly one-fifth of their 50 total points.
Steinhauer led the serving effort with five aces, while Dyvet Fonseca added three and Elsa Andersen contributed one. Those points proved particularly valuable in a match where neither set was decided by more than five points.
Sutton’s setters also played an important role in keeping the offense moving. Camden Mau distributed eight assists, while Andersen added seven. Their combined 15 assists helped create scoring opportunities for the Fillies’ hitters throughout the contest.
On defense, Jadlynn Kinney led Sutton with eight digs, providing a steady presence in the back row. Fonseca added five digs, while Andersen and Steinhauer each recorded three. Smith contributed two digs and Mau added one.
At the net, Sutton’s blocking effort was spread across several players. Baldwin, Smith and Trejo each recorded a solo block and a block assist, while Steinhauer added another block assist. The contributions gave the Fillies a defensive presence to complement their offensive production.
The victory was a team effort, with Sutton receiving contributions from its experienced seniors as well as younger players. The combination of effective serving, efficient hitting and defensive support helped the Fillies reverse the outcome of their earlier meeting with Superior.
For Sutton, the win carried significance beyond adding another victory to the season record. After losing to Superior in September, the Fillies returned to face the same opponent with fifth place in the conference tournament on the line and delivered a straight-set victory.
With the SNC tournament behind them and a 16-12 record, the Fillies can carry the momentum of their fifth-place finish into the remaining stretch of the 2026 volleyball season.
A month earlier, Superior had gotten the better of Sutton. This time, the Fillies had the final word.
Sutton vs. Superior
Sutton............................................................ 25 25 Superior......................................................... 20 21
