WNCC takes down Northwest to open second day of Wyo-Braska tournament

Tournament photos available at wncccougars.albumpost.com

Former Western Nebraska Community College teammates Giovana Melo and Flavia Siqueira met on the sidelines as their respectful teams did battle in the second day of the Wyo-Braska Shootout. In the end, it was Melo’s Cougars that turned the trick on Siqueira’s Northwest College Trappers in straight games 25-9, 25-14, 25-18 to improve to 29-2 on the season.

The Cougars put on a dazzling hitting show as sophomore Fatima Balza finished with 16 kills and freshman Kaleinani Kabalis tallied 15 in the win.

In the first game, however, it was the Cougars domination from the service line that paid off as Gregner Quinones quickly started the Cougars to a 3-0 lead. Minutes later, Brooke Bloomenkamp served up five points behind two kills from Paloma Alvarez and a block and kill from Balza for a 16-5 lead.

WNCC kept going as Kabalis tallied three kills and two service points to finish off the first game victory.

Games two and three were a little bit tighter as Siqueira made adjustments and pushed the Cougars. Game two was back and forth until WNCC took a 12-8 lead behind two service points by Nayka Benitez. Later, Quinones served three points for a 17-10 lead. WNCC added to the lead as Balza served twice for a 20-11 lead and the Cougars cruised to the win.

Quinones started game three with three service points for a quick 3-0 lead in favor of the Cougars. Northwest Wyoming fought back, slicing the lead to one, 13-12. WNCC fought back as Kabalis hammered home two clutch kills for a 16-13 lead. WNCC added to the lead rotations later as they cruised to the 20-18 win.

Balza, besides her match-leading 16 kills, also had three points and four blocks, while Kabalis added two block, seven digs, 10 points and three aces to her 15 kills.

Also for the Cougars, Quinones had eight points and three digs; Sabina Piegza had two points, four digs and 33 assists; Paulina Piegza had seven kills; Alvarez had seven kills, three digs and two blocks; Bloomenkamp had two kills, five points and eight digs; and Benitez had 13 digs, two aces and five points.

WNCC will be in action later tonight when they face Williston State College at 6 p.m. The Cougars will wrap up the Wyo-Braska tournament Saturday when they face Miles Community College at 10 a.m.