Submitted by JEREMY WOZNICK, Star-Herald Sports Reporter
SALT LAKE CITY — The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team rolled off four more wins in the opening day of the Salt Lake Invite on Friday in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The wins improved the Cougars to a perfect 12-0 on the season. WNCC will compete in one more pool play match today at 10:15 a.m. against Salt Lake Community College before entering bracket play.
WNCC opened Friday’s play with a 25-18, 25-19 win over North Idaho College. Freshman Kaleinani Kabalis powered down 12 kills and totaled six digs to lead the Cougars. Fatima Balza added seven kills and a team-high five blocks while Nayka Benitez registered five digs. Freshman Sabina Piegza tallied 20 set assists from her setter’s position.
In its second match of the day, WNCC posted a 25-15, 25-23 win over Hutchinson Community College. Balza led the way with 10 kills and nine big blocks. Kabalis added six kills and a team-high 11 digs and Benitez had seven digs and two aces. Sabina Piegza finished with 23 assists for the Cougars while her sister, Paulina, had six kills.
Three Cougars totaled double-figure kill totals in WNCC’s 25-7, 21-25, 15-10 win over Indian Hills Community College. Kabalis paved the way with 13 kills. Balza added 12 kills, while Paulina Piegza finished with 10 kills and four blocks.
Defensively, Benitez totaled 13 digs and Brooke Blomenkamp added eight. Sabina Piegza finished with a whopping 36 assists and added five blocks.
In its final match of the day, WNCC cruised to a 25-14, 25-11 win over Lakeland Community College out of Illinois. Sabina Piegza dished out 28 assists in the match. Kabalis pounded 15 kills, while Balza and Paulina Piegza each finished with eight. Benitez led the Cougars defensively with seven digs.
The defending national champion Cougars have won the tournament the last two years in a row.
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