The No. 2 Cougars opened the day by downing No. 6 Iowa Western Community College 25-22, 25-16, 25-22, before disposing of Division II, No. 5 ranked Des Moines Area Community College 25-15, 25-23, 25-17.
WNCC coach Giovana Melo said her team played flawlessly in the win against Iowa Western.
“We played the best that we have played this season,” the second year head coach said. “I know we haven’t played much, just those couple of games, but that is the best I have seen them practice and play all together. That was just their best performance that we have had this year. We had a lot of them step it up. We had a game plan and they did every single thing that we asked them to do.”
The last time WNCC and Iowa Western faced each other, the Cougars won in five exciting sets to finish third at the national tournament last November. This time, the Cougars left little doubt on the outcome, sweeping past the Reivers. Melo said was impressed with Kaleinani Kabalis' performance along but also lauded the rest of the team for playing like a team.
“They stuck with the game plan we had for them,” Melo said. “They did everything we asked and Kali was unstoppable.
Kaleinani Kabalis, who is a pre-season first team All-American, led the Cougars with 16 kills, seven digs and two solo blocks. Kathryn Stock also chipped in 19 digs and eight kills, while Paulina Piegza had eight kills. Also for the Cougars, Sabina Piegza had 42 set assists, Kuulei Kabalis had nine digs and 15 points, and Emily Hoehn had nine points.
Melo said they didn’t play as well against Des Moines, but still they played impressive.
“This wasn’t as good as the first game, but we still played OK,” she said. “We let down a little bit and we weren’t good the whole game. We were good at just times. I think that Iowa Western game took a lot out of us because they were a good team.”
Kaleinani Kabalis had a double-double in the win against Des Moines Area, finishing with 17 kills and 13 digs. Kabalis also had eight points and one ace.
Also for the Cougars in the Des Moines win, Paulina Piegza had 15 kills, Brooke Blomekamp had seven kills, Whitney Roth had two solo blocks and four total blocks, Sabina Piegza had 42 set assists, Kuulei Kabalis had 13 digs, and Emily Hoehn had nine digs, five points and two aces.
Melo said this team has a lot of potential after the first weekend.
“We can be a really good team. It is just being able to be consistent and to be able to do the things that we need to do for long periods of time. If we only do it a couple of times, here and there, it won’t be enough. We need to perform at that high level for long periods of time.”
It doesn’t get any easier for the Cougars as they will compete in the Salt Lake Invite next Friday and Saturday. WNCC has won the Salt Lake tournament the past three years.
“That will be tough as well,” Melo said. “There will be just as good teams and more matches that will be tough.”
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