The Lawrence-Nelson High School volleyball team continues to struggle against higher class opponents. The Raiders swept the Harvard Cardinals, 25-8 and 25-18, at the Harvard triangular match last Tuesday. The 11-4 Class D-1 Kenesaw Blue Devils swept the Raiders in two-sets, 23-25 and 17-25. The Class D-2 Shelton Bulldogs, 14-1, handed Lawrence-Nelson a three-set, 17-25, 20-25 and 21-25 loss Thursday at Nelson. The Raiders emerged with a 7-6 record. The Raiders hosted Class C-2 schools Fillmore Central and Thayer Central for a triangular match Tuesday at Nelson. Results were unavailable at press time.

Though the tough schedule impacts the Raiders path to post season play in the wild card standings, it toughens them up for qualifying through winning in sub and district post-season matches.

Emma Epley topped the Lawrence-Nelson kill chart against Harvard with nine. Sydney Biltoft took care of five kills. Kyle Beard and Aleah Heikkinen accounted for three kills apiece. Elsa Jorgensen had a kill. Epley, Heikkinen and Hanna Skinner scored with two aces apiece. Beard, Jorgensen and Katelyn Mazour had an ace each. Kara Menke had a block. Jorgensen found her way to seven digs. Mazour had five digs. Heikkinen had four digs. Menke added three digs. Epley and Emily Troudt contributed two digs each. Beard and Biltoft had a dig each.

Epley jammed down eight kills against Kenesaw. Heikkinen registered three kills. Beard put down two kills. Biltoft, Mazour and Menke powered down a kill apiece. Epley and Heikkinen each scored two aces. Mazour had an ace. Heikkinen recorded a block. Jorgensen handled 13 digs. Heikkinen and Skinner produced seven digs each. Epley and Mazour brought up six digs apiece. Beard had three digs./ Menke added a dig.

Epley was the lead Raider killer against Shelton with 11. Heikkinen landed seven kills. Menke accounted for five kills. Biltoft jammed three kills. Mazour had a kill. Epley lashed through two aces. Biltoft and Epley had a block apiece. Mazour had nine digs. Jorgensen finished with seven digs. Beard and Epley wrote up six digs each. Heikkinen disposed of five digs. Biltoft, Menke and Skinner had a dig each.

The Raiders host the 8-4 Class D-2 SIlver Lake Mustangs at Nelson today (Thursday). The road gets tougher as the Raiders compete at the Hastings St. Cecilia Invitational in Hastings. Opening round play begins Tuesday. The field is filled with class D-1 and C-2 powerhouses such as Superior and St. Cecilia.