Knights leap past MCC Volleyball with 3-1 win
The North Platte Community College volleyball team leapfrogged past McCook Community College in the region standings Saturday with a 3-1 win over the Lady Indians at home. The Knights took the match 25-18, 25-21, 25-27 and 25-22 to move into third place in the Region IX South standings with one game remaining for each team.
With the loss MCC falls back into fourth place, tied with Trinidad State for the fourth and final spot from the south that will advance to the post-season tournament. Trinidad State holds the tie-breaker over MCC so the Lady Indians only chance to make it into the post season field is for the Trojans to lose Wedneday at home against seventh place Otero College and for MCC to win its final game Thursday.
After the Knights took the first two sets, MCC trailed 17-10 in the third set but battled back several times to gain momentum and get the set win in extra points.
“I thought we had a good come back in the third, but we just didn’t come out in the fourth to finish,” said MCC Coach Hayley Kobza. “We continued to make a lot of little mistakes and we just can’t have that at this level.”
A pair of Lady Indians posted double-doubles on the scoresheet. Sophomore Charlee Russick (Berthoud, Colo.) led MCC with 17 kills and 15 digs – both led the team as did her two service aces. Chase County freshman Landree McNair had 14 assists, 12 digs and three kills.
Peightan Swanson (freshman, Severance, Colo.) had nine kills and five digs. Freshman Stefany Garcia (Cochabamba, Bolivia) had five kills, five block assists and two solo blocks. Bobbi Starkebaum (freshman Haxtun, Colo.) had six block assists and two kills. Freshman Leia Young (Amarillo, Texas) was credited with five block assists and a solo block.
Freshman Zoe Mulholland (Lander, Wyo.) led MCC with 19 set assists to go along with six digs. Sophomore transfer Paulina Fister (Tuszyn, Poland) had six digs and one kill. Freshman Brooke Nelson (Berthoud, Colo.) had
10 digs.
The Knights improve to 8-5 to take third place in the south standings behind NJC 13-0 and Western Nebraska 11-2. North Platte also improves to 14-14 on the season and will wrap up their schedule Wednesday at home against seventh place Southeast Community College (1-12) at 6 p.m.
“North Platte played well and they continue to improve with every match,” said Kobza.
MCC falls to 7-6 in the standings and 11-16 overall and will travel to Lamar (4-9) Thursday for the final regular season home.
The top four teams from the south standings will advance to the Region IX tournament against the top for teams in the Region IX North standings. The post-season begins Nov. 5.
Up-to-date information about MCC volleyball including livestream links, schedule, statistics, rosters, photos and more can be found on the MCC Athletics website, www.mccindians.com
REGION IX SOUTH STANDINGS
W - L PCT. OVERALL
Northeastern JC 13-0 1.000 27-3 (.900)
Western Nebraska 11- 2 .846 14-18 (.438)
North Platte 8 - 5 .583 14-14 (.500)
Trinidad State 7 - 6 .538 14-13 (.519)
McCook CC 7 - 6 .538 11-16 (.407)
Lamar
Southeast
Otero College 1 - 12 .077 3-22 (.120)
SATURDAY RESULTS
North Platte 3 McCook CC 1 (at McCook)
Lamar 3, Southeast CC 0 (at Lamar)
REMAINING REGION IX SOUTH GAMES
WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE
Southeast at North Platte, 6 p.m.
Otero at Trinidad State, 7 p.m.
Western Nebraska at Northeastern JC, 7 p.m.
THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE
McCook CC at Lamar, 7 p.m.