The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team ran their winning streak to 13 as they picked up three more wins Friday in the second day of the Wyo-Braska Shootout at Cougar Palace. The third ranked Cougars topped No. 9 Laramie County Community College 25-23, 21-25, 25-23, 25-18; and then Yavapai (Ariz.) College 25-20, 25-19, 25-14, before sweeping past Northwest (Wyo.) College 25-17, 25-13, 25-20.
The Eastern Wyoming College Lancers went 1-2 in the Wyo-Braska Shootout in which they co-host with WNCC. The Lancers defeated Trinidad State 25-16, 25-13, 25-20 before falling to Lamar Community College 14-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-18. The Lancers finished off the second day by falling to Yavapai in four sets 25-20, 17-25, 25-22, 25-18.
The tournament wraps up Saturday with three matches at each site beginning at 10 a.m. WNCC will look for win No. 20 as they face No. 6 Western Wyoming Community College at noon at Cougar Palace. The Lancers will face Dodge City Community College at noon at Torrington.
WNCC’s three wins was highlighted by strong play, both offensively and defensively. Kuulei Kabalis, who had 25 digs against Northwest Wyoming, said they played well defensively as a whole.
“We weren’t always on but when we were, which was the majority of the time, we did awesome,” she said. “We were on our toes and we were ready to go. We didn’t let anything drop. We just had the attitude of go get it.”
In the Northwest match, the Cougars played exceptional defense in the second set. One play stood out the most and it was when Kabalis used her shoulder to make a save and the ball ending up going over the net for a point.
“I was waiting for the ball to come and it came to me and I was ready to dig it anywhere on my body,” she said. “It came off my shoulder and it was a hard hit, but it worked for a point.”
The Cougars, after winning the first set against Northwest 25-17, took control of set two in dominating fashion as they raced to a 12-4 and 21-8 lead behind stellar defensive plays and long rallies.
Kabalis finished that game with 25 digs, but three other players also had double-digit or near double-digit digs. Kathryn Stock and Debora Araujo each had 12 digs, while Emily Hoehn had nine.
Blocking was also a big key for the Cougars in the match as WNCC had 14 assist blocks and four solo blocks. Lais Soares finished with five blocks and five kills, while Tania Torres had three blocks and three kills. Stock finished the match with five kills, two blocks, and nine points, while Araujo had 12 kills, three blocks, and 10 points.
Also for the Cougars, Fernanda Goncalves had three blocks, nine points and 23 set assists, while Ariel Austin had eight kills and two blocks.
WNCC was just as impressive in the opening two matches. One of the biggest wins for the Cougars was against No. 9 LCCC as it was hard fought by both teams. WNCC won the first set coming back from a 20-16 deficit to sting the Golden Eagles on three service points by Goncalves.
LCCC captured the second set, but the Cougars rebounded to take the third set in dramatic fashion. The Cougars trailed 23-21 before a Araujo kill gave WNCC the serve. Araujo then served three straight points and Torres put up a block to earn the victory.
LCCC jumped on top of the Cougars 10-8 before Goncalves served three straight points to put WNCC in front for good. The Cougars kept rolling, pushing the score to 23-16 on their way to the match win.
Araujo and Stock each had double-figure kills. Araujo finished with 24 kills, including five digs and five points. Stock had 12 digs and six points. Also for the Cougars, Torres had six blocks; Soares had four kills and four digs; Goncalves had 13 points, three aces, 45 set assists, and seven digs; and Kabalis had 12 digs.
WNCC was just as impressive against Yavapai College. After a first set struggle, which the Cougars won 25-20 on a Stock kill, the Cougars opened the second set with a bang as Kabalis served seven straight points to push WNCC to a 10-1 lead. WNCC went on to win 25-19 and then took the third set 25-14.
Torres and Austin were the big hitters for the Cougars. Torres finished with 11 kills, while Austin had 10 kills. Soares collected seven kills, seven blocks; Stock had seven kills, six blocks, 11 digs and five points; Mackenzie Westphal had six kills and four digs; Goncalves had five digs, 30 set assists and two aces; and Kabalis had nine points and 19 digs.
Friday’s Results
At Scottsbluff
Dodge City over Lamar 19-25, 25-27, 25-19, 25-19, 15-10; LCCC over NJC 25-19, 25-22, 25-20; WNCC over LCCC 25-23, 21-25, 25-23, 25-18; Casper over Air Force Prep 25-12, 25-16, 25-15; Casper over Lamar 25-21, 25-22, 25-23; Western Wyoming over Air Force Prep 25-20, 25-8, 25-11; WNCC over Yavapai 25-20, 25-19, 25-14; NJC over Northwest Wyoming 20-25, 25-17, 25-22, 25-16; Casper over NJC 27-25, 18-25, 25-19, 25-23; WNCC over Northwest Wyoming 25-17, 25-13, 25-20; LCCC over McCook 25-16, 25-9, 25-13.
At Torrington, Wyo.
Sheridan over Yavapai 15-25, 25-22, 26-24, 25-23; Western Wyoming over McCook 25-12, 25-10, 20-25, 25-18; EWC over Trinidad State 25-16, 25-13, 25-20; Northwest Wyoming over Seward County 25-13, 25-17, 25-17; Dodge City over Trinidad State 25-17, 25-12, 25-21; Sheridan over McCook 25-10, 25-27, 25-17, 25-23; Seward County over Sheridan 25-17, 25-18, 25-23; Lamar over EWC 14-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-18; Dodge City over Air Force Prep 25-11, 25-11, 25-18; Western Wyoming over Seward County 25-15, 25-16, 25-18; Yavapai over EWC 25-20, 17-25, 25-22, 25-18.
Saturday’s Schedule
At Scottsbluff
10 a.m. – Northwest Wyoming vs. Yavapai, LCCC vs. Trinidad State; noon – WNCC vs. Western Wyoming.
At Torrington, Wyo.
10 a.m. – McCook vs. Casper, Sheridan vs. Air Force Prep; noon – EWC vs. Dodge City.
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