Strong serving helps WNCC sweep EWC for 12th win of the season

Western Nebraska Community College’s afternoon serving practice paid dividends for the Cougars to the tune of 16 ace serves and five players getting near double-digit scoring as the Cougars swept past Eastern Western Wyoming College 30-14, 30-16, 30-13 Tuesday evening for their 12^th win of the season.

WNCC coach Chris Green said the team went through light serving drills earlier in the day. But as much as the extra serving practice paid off, Green said his team wasn’t sharp offensively.

“Serving was a little better then it was this weekend, but offensively we struggled,” WNCC coach Chris Green said. “After the Salt Lake tournament, I don’t think we came out like we should have, especially the first two games.

One Cougar, though, was sharp offensively. Sophomore Jennifer Eichler had another outstanding match, where she netted 15 kills, nine points, two blocks and two ace serves. But as much as Eichler was sizzling, the rest of the team also put up impressive numbers, including back-up setter Cassie Vrooman, who finished the match with nine assists and eight points. In fact, Green thought the third game was his team’s best effort.

“Cassie did very well. She set the ball really well in that third game,” he said. “It says a lot about Eichler, who had 15 kills in a game where the scores weren’t that close. That says a lot about her ability. She knows how to put balls away.”

Still, serving was the difference in the game, where Seven different Cougar players recorded ace serves on the night, led by Nakya Benitez’ four and Stacie Meisner’s three. Also collecting two aces each were Daphine da Silva, Shawntell Jones, and Soriana Pacheco.

Meisner led the team with 10 points followed by Eichler with nine, and Jones, Benitez and Cassie Vrooman with eight each.

The Lancers also showed some serving promise as Torrington’s Josey Peterson had a strong serving game finishing the night with four points, including three aces.

EWC coach Verl Petsch said that his team’s weakness of passing and stopping the Cougars serving game was the difference.

“We just couldn’t pass the ball and I am tearing my hair out about what we are going to do,” he said. “Obviously there were some very good serves . We had 17 aces according to my stats and a lot of them were on jump serves and people that were serving floaters got to us. We just have to elevate our game because that gets us in a hole. All year long we have been playing inconsistent. We play well for a few points and then we let someone have a run.”

Peterson’s run of points was a bright spot, which ignited the Lancers in the second game. Trailing 21-11, Peterson served three straight points, including two aces to bring the Lancers back.

EWC’s run was short-lived as Chelsea Lyles record a kill and then moments later, Eicher went on a seven-point scoring spree, highlighted by two Fatima Balza kills and an ace serve. Eichler even finished off the game-two win by recording the game-ending kill as she soared from the backrow to hammer home the winner.

The third game was another strong serving game for the Cougars. Cassie Vrooman started things early serving up seven straight points for a quick 7-0 lead. EWC did slice the lead to to 12-5 on a Jackie Onigheit kill, but the Cougars kept pounding away.

Kendra Schauermann expanded the Cougars lead to 19-6 with four straight points. EWC managed to cut the deficit to 12 points on several locations, but two service points from Jones and Heather Steggs was enough to push the Cougars to the win.

Andrea Hockley led the Lancers with six hills and three blocks, while Sara Gipfert had three kills. Onigheit finished with four blocks, Kelsey Stout three blocks, Gipfert also had three points, while Sarah Blausey had six set assists.

WNCC had a well-rounded match with several individuals standing out. Besides Eichler’s outstanding game, Pacheco finished with 14 set assists and Vrooman nine set assists. Schauermann led the team with 10 digs followed by Meisner with nine, da Silva with six and Benetiz with five.

Fatima Balza tallied nine kills in the win, followed by Jones and Pacheco each with five.

WNCC, 12-1, will now head to the Central tournament on Friday and Saturday. The team will play four pool play matches against Cloud County Community College, Iowa Central Community College, Central Community College-Columbus and Butler County Community College.

“Hopefully we can have a good practice tomorrow (Wednesday) to get ready for some good competition this weekend,” Green said. “We will work a little on defense, serving a little hitting (Wednesday) and hopefully we will be ready and fired up to play in Columbus this weekend because the competition will be just as good. The No. 1 team in the nation (Iowa Western Community College) is in that tournament.”

It doesn’t get any easier for the Lancers tonight as EWC travels to face Northeastern Junior College.

“Anytime you play really good competition, which tonight was probably the best team in the nation and I would bet that they are on the top of their game,” Petsch said. “But it is good for you to play good competition and you just learn from it and elevate your game and come back tougher. These kids continue to do that.”