OSHKOSH - Garden County is headed to the Class D2 State Volleyball Tournament for the first time in more than five years after defeating St. Mary’s, 3-1 (25-15, 22-25, 25-20, 26-24), in the D2-6 District Final on Saturday afternoon in Oshkosh.

Junior Kirstyn Beberniss led the way for the Eagles with 15 kills, 16 assists, 4 blocks and 2 aces. Senior Ridglyn Stanczyk added a team-high 17 kills, along with 17 assists, 3 blocks and an ace. Junior Kelbi Cooper anchored the net defensively with 5 blocks and 2 kills.

As a team, Garden County finished the match with 46 kills on 36 assists, 15 blocks and 3 aces.

St. Mary’s senior Gracie Williamson recorded a match-high 27 kills and 2 blocks in the loss. Freshman Tatum Ickes added 13 kills, a block and an ace, while junior Adyson Petersen tallied 41 assists, 2 kills and an ace for the Lady Cardinals. St. Mary’s finished with 43 kills, 8 blocks and 4 aces.

With the victory, Garden County improves to 30-3 on the season and advances to the Class D2 State Volleyball Tournament in Lincoln, scheduled for November 6–8. The Eagles earned the No. 5 seed and will play No. 4 Dundy County-Stratton (26-6) on Thursday at Pinnacle Bank Arena at 10 a.m. MDT. on 987 The Big Boy (98.7 FM, thebigboy987.com, the free News Channel Nebraska app and tell Alexa to "play 987 The Big Boy).

St. Mary’s concludes its season at 25-7.

Ogallala (31-3) is the top-seed in Class C1 and will play No. 8 Holdrege (22-9) at 12 p.m. MDT on Wednesday at PBA.