Spencer, Ia (Northwest Iowa Now) – The 2026 season opened up in the KICD 9-County Area on Tuesday, and Spencer started off the year by hosting their annual Early Bird Tournament.

Pool A featured Spencer, South O’Brien, and Algona while Pool B had Okoboji, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn, and Manson-Northwest Webster.

Pool A started off with Algona sweeping South O’Brien in two sets.  Spencer then came on to the court, upsetting the #10 ranked in 3A Bulldogs 2-0.  That set up a match between Spencer and South O’Brien, where if Spencer won, they advanced into the Championship, but if South O’Brien won it forced a 3-way tie.  South O’Brien beat Spencer in 3 sets, 21-17, 12-21, and 15-7.  Spencer won the tiebreaker with a set record of 3-2, moving the Tigers into the Championship match.  Algona, with a 2-2 Set record was put in the 3rd place match.  South O’Brien’s set record of 2-3 moved into the 5th Place match.

Okoboji left no doubt in Pool B, beating Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn 2-0 then getting past Manson-Northwest Webster 2-1.  The Pioneers advanced into the Championship match against Spencer, Manson-Northwest Webster took on Algona in the 3rd Place Match, and Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn went to the 5th place match to play their conference rivals in South O’Brien.

In the Championship match, Okoboji dominated.  The Pioneers won Set 1 21-13 and then completed the sweep of their new conference foes in set 2 by a score of 21-7.