Class 3A's seventh-ranked Sterling volleyball's 2021 fall schedule certainly hasn't been easy, but the Tigers are making the most of it.

They've faced many tough opponents and fell to some, such as Sidney in Nebraska and Class 3A's top-ranked Resurrection Christian. In other instances, they came out on top of some of the state's top talent by taking out No. 6 Eaton by a 3-2 final and University, who is currently ranked No. 5 in the Class 3A poll.

In the past two weeks, they've faced perhaps their toughest stretch of play all season long. First, on Sept. 28, the Tigers had to travel to No. 10 Platte Valley and just barely got outplayed by the Broncos. Sterling barely stole the first set by a 25-23 score, but Platte Valley fought back harder in the final three sets as the Broncos won out by the thinnest of margins at 25-21, 25-23 and 25-23.

Senior Sydney Henry led Sterling's offensive effort with 16 kills to senior Kaylee Johnson's 14 kills as Johnson led the back row defense with 14 digs. Henry, senior Emerie Rios and freshman Ady Santomaso followed her lead with 11 digs apiece. Henry and freshman Shayleigh Ulrich added 20 and 15 assists, respectively.

The Tigers bounced back with a 3-2 victory over University nine days later and the sets once again stayed fairly close: 25-20, 15-25, 22-25, 28-26 and 18-16.

On Saturday, the Tigers faced another setback -- their fourth of the season -- when they traveled to No. 4 Lutheran. They started out with lower energy as the Lions won the first set by a 25-11 score before finding that fire in the second set. Lutheran still won that frame, but the Tigers didn't make it easy as they fell 25-19. They finally broke through in the third set with a 25-21 win, but the Lions shut them down for good in the fourth as the home team won out with a 25-14 final.

Sterling should have an easier go in its next match at 3-16 Estes Park on Wednesday.