Excelsior Springs refused to be swept in its opening week of varsity volleyball. The Tigers played three matches in three nights, falling 3-1 Aug. 28 to visiting Fort Osage, 3-1 Aug. 29 at St. Joseph Central and 3-2 Aug. 30 to visiting Oak Grove. The Tigers took the opening game against Fort Osage, pulling away late for a 25-20 victory. Fort Osage answered by taking the next two sets 25-19, 25-19. Excelsior Springs and Fort Osage then battled back and forth in the fourth set before Fort Osage pulled off a 25-23 win. “We had a strong start with great energy, but we need to be able to bounce back from adversity and want the next ball to come back to … (us),” Tigers coach Kathryn Partridge said. Central, on the other hand, opened with a 25-12 win and Excelsior Springs answered by taking the second set 25-23. Excelsior Springs then fought Central in the third set before falling 26-24. Central took the final set 25-18. Like the Central match, Excelsior Springs rebounded from a loss in…