Linn pushed its varsity volleyball winning streak to nine matches last week with victories over Capital City and Tipton before going 2-2 Saturday at the Rolla Invitational and falling to Washington in the gold bracket.

The Lady Wildcats opened Tuesday with a 25-19, 25-15, 24-26, 25-23 victory over Cap City despite adjusting the lineup with players out sick.

Ali Russell served five aces, while Anna Brandt added three. Kylie Goans led a balanced attack with nine kills, followed by Carley Brandt (8), Russell and Nevaeh Ames (5 each) and Nicole Grellner (4). Grellner distributed 25 assists, while Goans collected 33 digs, Jorja Kempker posted 30 and Russell added 20.

“We continued to play well as a team throughout this game,” Coach Megan Russell said. “Cap City was scrappy, but we were able to control the tempo and play our game. We are really starting to play as a solid unit and trusting our teammates to do the job they are supposed to.”

Linn’s JV lost 25-4, 25-19, while the C-team fell 25-22, 25-22.

The Lady Wildcats opened Show-Me Conference play Thursday at Tipton with a 25-12, 25-23, 25-15 varsity sweep, serving successfully at 93% and finishing with 39 kills.

Lexy Strong led Linn with four aces, followed by Grellner (3) and Russell (1). Carley Brandt paced the offense with 11 kills, while Russell and Goans added seven each, followed by Grellner (5) and Ames and Kempker (4 apiece). Grellner finished with 25 assists and Strong added eight.

“We move the ball around so well and have so many options to keep the opponent guessing on where the ball is going,” Russell said.

The Lady Wildcats also remained strong defensively despite playing without their libero. Russell led with 22 digs, followed by Goans (18) and Kempker (15).

“The back row picked up the responsibility, and we were able to get some JV players in and get some experience,” Russell said. “We have some very versatile girls, and getting the opportunity to play at the varsity level is nice to see them be able to step up into those roles.”

Linn’s JV nearly forced a third set before falling 25-21, 26-24, while the C-team lost 25-19, 25-21.

The varsity victory gave Linn a nine-match winning streak heading into Saturday’s Rolla Invitational, where the Lady Wildcats were placed in a pool with Eminence, Central of Springfield and Sullivan.

After leaving Linn at 6:30 a.m., the Lady Wildcats showed no signs of a slow start and defeated Eminence 25-19, 25-16. Russell had two aces, Goans added nine kills, Grellner had 14 assists, and Kempker counted 10 digs.

“It was a very early morning, so I was a little nervous how the girls would start out, but I was pleasantly surprised,” Russell said. “Despite the early morning, the girls came out with a bang to start the tournament.”

Linn followed with a 25-11, 25-14 victory over Central, led by Strong’s three aces, as Goans posted eight kills and Grellner added 16 assists and eight digs.

After sitting two matches, the Lady Wildcats struggled to regain their earlier rhythm against Sullivan. Russell described it as Linn’s poorest performance of the day following the extended break, although the Lady Wildcats continued competing. Russell served three aces, while Carley Brandt and Goans recorded five kills apiece and Grellner finished with 10 assists.

Linn emerged from pool play seeded fourth among 12 teams and advanced to the gold bracket, where it faced Washington.

Early errors put the Lady Wildcats behind in a 25-15 first-set loss, but a defensive adjustment helped Linn respond with a 25-18 victory in the second. Washington edged the Lady Wildcats 25-22 in the deciding set.

“Washington was a very well-balanced team, probably giving us the highest competition we have seen this year,” Russell said. “Our adjustment in defense really helped our back row dig more and allowed us to play more competitively in that second and third set.”

Linn finished the match with three aces, 36 kills and 67 digs.

The Lady Wildcats will return to action this week against St. James, North Callaway and Russellville.