The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team made quick work of Northwest Shoals Community College int eh first round of the NJCAA national tournament behind some sparkling defensive rallies and a 11-kill effort from Fatima Balza.
The defending national champs took out the Lady Patriots 25-12, 25-13, 25-14 and will advance to an afternoon contest against Miami Dade College at 4:30 p.m.. Miami Dade was a 25-19, 26-24, 25-18.
Other first round scores saw University of Arkansas-Ft. Smith drop Casper College 25-11, 25-14, 25-9, and the Missouri State-West Plains fight back from a 2-0 defecit to defeat Salt Lake Community College 24-26, 23-25,25-19, 25-23, 15-8.
In WNCC’s opener, the Cougars started slow, trailing 3-1 and 4-2 off a kill by Megan Springer. After a Sabina Piegza point, Fatima Balza served up three points to push the peald to 6-4. WNCC continued to pick up the offense, behind two kills from Kaleinani Kabalis and then an ace serve by Kabalis for a 9-6 lead.
WNCC’ continue to excel as Nayka Benitez served six points and then Gering’s Brooke Blomekamp tossed up two more points as the Cougars rolled to the 25-12 lead.
Blomenkamp heated things up to start in the second set, serving four straight points to give WNCC a 5-1 lead. WNCC kept playing strong, keeping ralies alive, including several nice saves that balza terminated with a kill.
Paloma Alvarez followed suit in the tame with a kill and then three straight service points for a 20-9 and the Cougars never looked back.
The third set was a little cloer to start with as Northwest Shoals led 6-5 at one time. Kabalis changed things with some heat, hammering a kill. Afterwards, Kabalis had three service points to push the lead to 10-6. Moments later, Gregner Quinones had five service points, as Balza registered a kill and Alvarez had two kills for a 17-9 lead.
After back and fourth points, balza had her 11th kill of the match and then serviced up three straight points to push the lead to 25-13.
Balza, the sophomore that is being courted by Wisconsin, Penn State, Arizona State and South Plorida, finished with 11 kills three blocks and five points.
The Cougars also had balanced hitting from all the hitters. Kabalis finished with nine kills as well as five points and nine digs.
Also, Alvarez had seven kills nine points, four aces and four digs; Paulina Piegza had six kills; and Cami Weimer had four kills.
Benitez finished the tournament opener with five points, two aces and five digs; Blomencamp ahd five points; Quinones four points; and Sabina Piegza four points, 27 set assists and five digs.
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