By KLINT SPILLER

kspiller@dailynews.net

Hays High School volleyball in the Christin Nunnery era got off to an undefeated start.

Granted, it's just the first outing and it was against smaller schools, but still, undefeated is undefeated.

The Indians (3-0) swept the Hays High Quadrangular against La Crosse (25-9, 25-17), Larned (25-18, 25-15) and Otis-Bison (25-18, 25-17).

"It's always good to start 3-0, but we also know what we have to work on, especially when we run into bigger schools," said Nunnery, the Indians' first-year head coach. "I think everybody stepped up and played their role like they should have."

Against La Crosse, seniors Millie Copper and Mikayla Linn led the way with six and five kills, respectively. Linn also had two blocks, and junior setter Tori Aten finished with seven assists.

In the second set, La Crosse actually managed to tie it 16-16 before Hays High went on a 9-1 run to close out the match.

The only time Hays High trailed by more than two points was against Larned in the first set.

Larned led 10-5 before Hays High rallied. The two teams were tied 13-13 when Hays High scored eight consecutive points to put the set out of reach.

Hays High never trailed in the second set.

Against Larned, Linn finished with six kills, two blocks and two digs. Aten had 13 assists, two aces and four digs.

Freshman Albany Schaffer posted seven digs.

The Indians got off to strong starts against Otis-Bison, which included a 9-0 opening run in the second set. However, hitting and serving errors allowed the Cougars to creep back into each set.

"We definitely hit the ball well, but our coverage was not as good today," Nunnery said. "We had a lot of missed serves, so we are going to work on that."

Linn and Copper led the way again against Otis-Bison, posting five kills apiece. Aten had 10 assists, and Schaffer had five digs.

First-year Otis-Bison coach Sarah Gregory said she was "a little disappointed" with her team's finish at the quadrangular. The Cougars left 1-2, defeating La Crosse (25-14, 25-18) but losing to Larned (25-19, 25-20) and Hays High.

"We were really aiming for 2-1," Gregory said. "If we could have come out 3-0, that would have been great. But we left 1-2, and the thing is over the day, we got better. Late in the match against Hays, we got better, and that's all I can ask for now."

La Crosse left the quadrangular 0-3, losing to Hays High, Otis-Bison and Larned (25-14, 25-12).

Nunnery said it was a good opportunity to work out some kinks.

Nunnery took over as interim Hays High volleyball coach just before the start of the season after former head coach Sarah Nuss got a new job and had to resign.

Senior Sydney Niernberger has had Nunnery all four years at Hays High, playing on the Nunnery-coached junior varsity team the previous three years, and she said she's happy with how the team has meshed under the new coach.

"It couldn't be better," Niernberger said. "We are really excited about it. With the freshmen and stuff, we are really clicking and bonding well. I love Nunnery."