It may not be the outcome they hoped for, but the Superior Lady Bobcats volleyball team is going to be better this year.

They opened the season this past week with a 3-0 set loss to always powerful Seeley-Swan, but each set was contested with the Lady Cats rallying and hanging in against a veteran, athletic Lady Blackhawks team. 

Seeley jumped out to a quick 13-3 lead in the first set and were up 17-3 when Superior ran off a series of points that closed the gap to 19-9 before the Blackhawks stopped their rally and won the opening set 25-13. 

The second set was tighter, with Superior shaking off a 6-2 early deficit and pulling to within two, 8-6.  Seeley went on a run and pushed their lead to 20-8 before the Cats once again staged a comeback attempt and cut the lead to 23-17. 

Seeley scored the final two points of the second set and took a 2-0 match lead as they pulled away to a 25-17 win. 

Superior took their first lead of the match in the third set, 1-0, then fell behind 6-3.  Once again, the Cats reached deep and pulled to within two points, 6-4, before the Blackhawks began pulling away, leading 13-5. 

The Cats were not quitting and pulled to within 16-10 before a final push by Seeley put them up 20-11. 

Yet again, Superior fought back and trimmed two points off that lead before Seeley took control and closed out a 25-13, third set win which clinched a 3-0 match victory. 

This week the Lady Cats face Deer Lodge on the road Tuesday (Sept 5), then return home for a Thursday night match with Anaconda as they kick off their 2024 conference schedule. 

The Lady Bobcats played in a tournament in Philipsburg this past Saturday, but no scores were immediately available.