WNCC volleyballers capture 50th win of season with four-set win against Northeastern Colorado

STERLING, Colo. -- The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team received a test Tuesday night against Northeastern Junior College. In the end, the No. 2 Cougars defense was too tough down the stretch for the Plainswomen to handle as WNCC registered a thrilling four-set win over NJC 27-29, 25-20, 25-22, 25-9.

The win was the Cougars 50th of the season and practically wrapped up the No. 1 seed in next week’s Region IX Tournament in Lamar, Colo.

“I think we got out a little flat and was watching and had to fight back. I thought we did a good job,” WNCC coach Giovana Melo said. “I told them [after we lost the first set] we have to play against good teams like that as hard as we can every single point; we can’t decide to play at the end of the game. We have to get in there from the very first point and they were able to pull it out.”

Defense, though, was the big winner for the Cougars in the contest as Nayka Benitez recorded a double-double, collecting 15 points, 13 digs and six aces in the win. The Cougars also got a fine hitting performance from Fatima Balza and Kaleinani Kabalis, who recorded 15 and 13 kills each. Balza also had six blocks in the contest.

But, it didn’t look good early for the Cougars as NJC took a 6-0 lead behind Masa Balandzik’s serving. NJC kept in control of set one, holding a 14-8 lead behind three points by Amy Einspahr.
WNCC didn’t fold as they fought back, taking a 17-14 lead behind eight service points by Benitez. Things became interesting after that as both teams traded points like two prized fighters. NJC came within set point at 24-22 only to see the Cougars tie the contest on Kabalis and Cami Weimer kill.

NJC finally captured the first set on a Caroline Ratterree kill and a Suyan Leipelt service point.

NJC stayed hot in the second set, holding a 6-5 lead early. WNCC, however, fought back. First, it was a Balza kill. Then, Sabina Piegza served up three points and then Kabalis had two points for a 13-8 lead. NJC cut the lead to 16-14 at one stretch, but that was as close as they got, as WNCC’s hitting and defense stifled the Plainswomen hitters for the 25-20 win, evening the match at a game apiece.

The third game was all WNCC early as the Cougars vaulted to a 19-10 lead behind six service points from Balza and two more from Kabalis. NJC made a run, however, as Alexis Eliades served up seven straight points to slice the lead to 19-18 before a Balza kill stopped the run.

NJC came back to take a 21-20 lead, before Balza stopped the run by hammering home three kills and the Cougar’s prevailed 25-22 on a Piegza service point.

Set four turned out to be a breeze for the Cougars as Benitez opened the set with three points for a 3-0 lead. NJC got within 3-2, but the Cougars turned up the heat behind a strong serving and hitting game to push the lead to 17-6. Kabalis did most of the damage during that run, serving five points, which incuded a spectacular pancake save to keep a rally going.

Benitez then added three points to push the lead to an insurmountable 21-7 lead. NJC managed two points, but Gregner Quinones served the final three points as Paloma Alvarez hammered home the game winner to put away the Plainswomen.

Melo said that her team played well after they decided to show up.

“We weren’t there at the beginning and then we decided to show up,” she said. “This is win is awesome especially to get the 50th win,” she said. “But, we need to keep getting better because we have regionals coming up and we will see them again.”

Besides Kabalis’ 13 kills, the freshman from Hawaii had nine points, three aces and 16 digs, balza also had five points and five digs to go with her 15 kills.

Also for WNCC, Quinones had four digs; Sabina Piegza had 26 set assists, five points, 19 digs, four kills and four blocks; Paulina Piegza had six kills and two blocks; Alvarez had seven kills and 13 digs; three kills and three blocks;

WNCC, 50-3 overall and 7-0 in sub-region play, will wrap up the regular season this weekend when they travel to southern Colorado for three more sub-region contests. The Cougars begin with a contest against Lamar Community College Thursday, followed by Otero Junior College on Friday and Trinidad State Junior College on Friday.

The Region IX tournament is slated for Nov. 7-9 in Lamar, Colo., with the winner qualifying for the national tournament.