CASSVILLE, Mo. — Third-seeded East Newton eliminated No. 6 Seneca in straight sets, sweeping the Indians 3-0 in the Class 4 District 12 quarterfinals.
Kolby Rinehart set the tone early for East Newton, landing a kill on the opening offensive sequence. Rinehart repeatedly punished Seneca on overpasses throughout the opening frame, converting multiple emphatic kills at the net.
Seneca pushed back in the first set behind an early service ace from Marley Myers and several sustained rallies. But East Newton answered from the service line. Zing Par delivered a pair of late aces to put the opening frame out of reach.
Once the Patriots found their rhythm, Seneca had no answer. East Newton controlled the tempo the rest of the way to close out the sweep and lock up a spot in the district semifinals