For the first time in school history, the Linn volleyball team (20-6-2) won the Central State 8 Conference title after defeating New Bloomfield on Thursday, 25-12, 25-4, 25-12.

“We set some team goals for this match and I would say we performed very well,” said Coach Megan Russell. “We had 28 total aces with season-high team hitting of 0.356.”

Vivien Baker led with 11 aces, and celebrated 500 career kills. Nicole Grellner posted 16 assists.

In the JV match, Linn won 25-7, 25-18.

On Tuesday, the Lady Cats defeated Eugene in four sets, 21-25, 25-17, 25-16, 25-19.

“We continued to execute all the way around,” said Coach Russell, noting the team served at a rate of 90.5% proficiency with eight total blocks and 108 digs. 

Baker finished with 29 kills and 26 digs as Grellner added 49 assists, Carley Brandt had five blocks, and Ali Russell posted three aces.

Linn’s JV team won 25-23, 25-10, and the C team lost 13-25.

On Monday of last week, another first for Linn as the girls defeated Fulton for the first time in program history, according to the Missouri State High School Activities Association, in four sets.

“We were sluggish in the first three sets and finally decided to start playing in the fourth,” said Russell. “We were solid with our serving (92.5% as a team), with seven aces, and we performed very well defensively with 91 digs and five blocks.”

Grellner counted a team-high 32 assists, ,Baker had 16 kills, and Russell finished with three aces.