WNCC volleyball slits in day two of Salt Lake tourney

               SALT LAKE CITY -- After upending two top 10 teams on Friday in the Salt Lake tournament, the Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team split a pair of matches on Saturday.

               The Cougars fell to undefeated North Idaho College 19-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-20 before sweeping over Snow College 25-23, 25-17, 26-24 to finish the tournament at 3-1.North Idaho went 4-0 in the tournament, after beating Western Wyoming and Northeastern Junior College on Friday and Central Wyoming on Saturday.

               The Cougars, 7-2, received some outstanding performance, but just fell short on the scoreboard in the loss to No. 12 North Idaho. Danika Youngblood paced the team with a double-double of 15 kills and 18 digs. Also collecting double-figure kills was Yoro Tovar with 16 kills.

               Also for the Cougars, Kat Agson had two kills; Priscila Mendes had six kills and 14 digs; Megan Johnson had eight kills; Luiza Martins had two kills, nine digs and 48 set assists; Lauren Knoz with three kills; Tasha Meyer with four digs; and Alex Rivera with 26 digs.

               WNCC was a little sharper against Snow College in sweeping to the win. Youngblood continued to impress on the young season, finishing with another double-double of 12 kills and 16 digs. No other Cougar had double figure kills.

               Johnson was next in line with eight kills. Johnson also tallied three blocks and two digs. Agson finished with seven kills, two blocks and two digs; Mendes had three kills and 10 digs; Tovar had three kills; Rivera had 16 digs; Martins had three kills, three blocks, five digs and 33 set assists; Taylor VanderWerff had two blocks; and Tasha Meyer had 11 digs.

               The Cougars will return to action next weekend when they head to Twin Falls, Idaho, to compete in the Starr Corporation Invite on the campus of the College of Southern Idaho tournament.