It has been a long season for the young Superior volleyball team, which lost a lot of talent to graduation this past Spring.

And while the re-tooled Lady Bobcats have scratched and clawed all season long, they have yet to claim a victory that will come with experience and will to win.

They have the will, experience is in the making.

This past weekend, the Lady Cats were swept at home and on the road, falling Tuesday in Superior to Seeley, 3-0, then on the road in St. Ignatius were they met a similar fate against the conference third place Bulldogs.

The Lady Bobcats opened their week against traditionally powerful Seeley, which is also struggling by their standards so far this year. The Blackhawks jumped out to an early lead in the first set before winning 25-16 to take a 1-0 match lead.

The Bobcats, as they have done all year, showed they were not going to surrender as they ratcheted up their play in the second set before losing 25-21. That put Seeley in control with a 2-0 match lead.

The Blackhawks iced the sweep in the third set with a 25-13 win, improving their overall record to 4-3 this year.

Josie Crabb had a good match for the home standing Cats, recording nine digs, two kills and one block, while Superior teammate Braelynn Mangold had a team-best four blocks to go with her two service aces. Shaylie Smalley led Superior with three service aces.

Saturday afternoon the Cats traveled to St. Ignatius for a match with the Bulldogs, who took control of the match early, winning the opening set 25-12. Once again, the Lady Cats fought back in the second set of what was a back and forth game. Unfortunately, St. Ignatius was able to squeak by with a 25-23 second set win, giving them a 2-0 match lead.

The home team then shifted to a higher gear and secured the 3-0 sweep with a 25-11 win in the third and deciding set.

The Bulldogs Izzy Evans had an outstanding game, recording a match high 10 kills in the win. Mangold had 11 digs to lead Superior, while teammate Crabb had a team-best eight digs.

Superior has a pair of games against Sanders County teams this week, beginning with a game this Thursday in Plains against the Trotters. The Cats then return north Saturday for an afternoon match with Thompson Falls.