Lancers bounce MCC Volleyball to consolation round with sweep

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Top-seeded Eastern Wyoming swept past McCook Community College Wednesday in the opening round of the Region IX Tournament. The Lancers won 25-13, 25-20, 25-21 to send MCC to an elimination game Thursday.

“Mentally we just killed ourselves,” said MCC Coach Hayley Kobza. “At the end of the day, all six ladies need to say we gave it our all and that we competed.”

Eastern Wyoming, the top seed from the north division of Region IX capped off a north division 4-0 sweep Wednesday which included upset wins over No. 4 Northeastern Junior College and No. 16 Western Nebraska. Western Wyoming downed Trinidad State 3-1 in the opening match, Central Wyoming upended Western Nebraska 3-1 and fourth seeded Laramie County outlasted No.4 Northeastern Junior College in a reverse sweep taking the fifth-set game 15-13.

In the final match of the day, MCC sophomore Caylin Barnett (McCook) led the attack with nine kills, two blocks and nine digs. Romina Martinez Castro (sophomore, Cochabamba, Bolivia) had seven kills and two digs. Sophomore Emerie Rios (Sterling, Colo.) was credited with five kills and three blocks. Charlee Russick (freshman, Berthoud, Colo.) had four kills and four digs.

Sophomore Rowan Tribelhorn (Yuma, Colo.) had four kills and three blocks, and freshman Ella Verts (Marshall, Mo.) had two assist blocks and one solo.

Sophomore Cibeles Bothwell (Spring, Texas) had five digs. Freshman Audrey Holm (Paxton) had two service aces.

Abby Thompson (freshman, Bison, S.D.) led the Lady Indians with 15 assists and had two digs while freshman Megan Walker (Haxtun, Colo.) had 10 assists and a dig.

MCC (21-12) will play Western Nebraska (26-9) Thursday at 2:30 p.m. The Cougars swept the season series with McCook.

“As long as we can come out and do it tomorrow we will be fine,” said Kobza. “We just need to show up and play some MCC volleyball.”

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 TOURNAMENT

At Cheyenne, Wyo. hosted by Laramie County CC

(Two teams advance to the NJCAA National Tournament)

WEDNESDAY

     Match 1 – Western Wyoming 3, Trinidad State 1

     Match 2 – Central Wyoming 3, Western Nebraska 1

     Match 3 – Laramie County 3, Northeastern JC 2

     Match 4 – Eastern Wyoming 3, McCook CC 0

THURSDAY

    Match 5 – Trinidad State (23-9) vs. Northeastern JC (27-5), noon (Elimination game)

    Match 6 – Western Nebraska (26-9), vs. McCook (21-12), 2:30 p.m. (Elimination game)

    Match 7 – Western Wyoming (22-7) vs. Laramie County (12-19), 5:30 p.m.

    Match 8 – Central Wyoming (17-10) vs. (Eastern Wyoming (24-9), 8 p.m.

FRIDAY

     Match 9 – Match 5 winner vs. Match 8 loser, 1 p.m. (Elimination game)

     Match 10 – Match 6 winner vs. Match 7 loser, 3:30 p.m. (Elimination game)

     Match 11 – Match 7 winner vs. Match 8 winner, 6 p.m. (First championship)

SATURDAY

     Match 12 – Match 9 winner vs. Match 10 winner, noon (Elimination game)

     Match 13 – Match 12 winner vs. Match 11 loser 5 p.m. (Second championship)