MCC Volleyball Tops Central in NCCAC Tilt

The McCook Community College volleyball team opened Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference play Wednesday in the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center with a 3-0 sweep over Central Community College.

MCC downed the Raiders 25-21, 25-25, 25-18.

"I thought we came out and started off really clean in first set of volleyball, a lot of kills and very few hitting errors," said MCC Coach Hayley Kobza.

"Across the board we played really well, there were a few things we didn't do as well as we should like making sure we're on our toes at all times on the digs and tips," said Kobza.

Sophomore Caylin Barnett (Southwest High School) had a career-high 17 kills to go along with three blocks and five digs. Freshman Charlee Russick (Berthoud, Colo.) had 13 kills, two blocks, an ace and eight digs. Romina Martinez Castro (sophomore, Cochabamba, Bolivia) had four kills, a block, 10 digs and an ace.

Rowan Tribelhorn (sophomore, Yuma, Colo.) was credited with seven kills and five digs. Freshman Ella Verts (Marshall, Mo.) had four blocks and three kills

Freshman Megan Walker (Haxtun, Colo.) had 40 assists, five digs, four blocks and three kills.

Sophomore Cibeles Bothwell (Spring, Texas) led MCC with 14 digs. Audrey Holm (freshman, Paxton) had three digs.

The Raiders came out in the third set and held a 10-8 lead early but after an MCC timeout, Kobza was pleased with her team's response.

"We had a little 'remember where we are conversation' and we came out and I thought finished the game really well," Kobza said.

Central CC goes to 10-5 and 1-1 in the Nebraska Conference. The Raiders just fell out of the NJCAA D2 rankings Monday after being ranked 21st and 22nd in the first two weeks of the polls.

The Lady Indians improve to 11-3 and 2-0 in the NCCAC

MCC travels to Hutchinson Friday and Saturday for the Blue Dragon Classic. On Friday MCC plays Hutchinson Community College at 3 p.m. and Iowa Western Community College at 5 p.m. On Saturday MCC takes on Missouri State University-West Plains at 10 a.m. and Butler Community College at noon.

Hutchinson is 9-7 on the season and the second match Friday is a rematch with 9-6 Iowa Western. MCC defeated the Reivers 3-1 at the MCC Labor Day weekend tournament Aug. 30.

MCC's opponents Saturday come in with combined 11 matches against top 20 opponents. Missouri State University is 9-4 and was ranked just outside just the NJCAA Top 20 with wins over No. 19 Daytona State and No. 18 Eastern Florida State and losses to No. 1 Florida Southwest State and No. 13 Hillsborough. While Butler is just 7-8, five of those losses have come against top 20 teams and the Grizzlies have beaten No. 3 Northeastern Junior College and No. 13 Southern Idaho.

"It's going to be a competitive weekend and that's what we need heading into Region IX play next week," said Kobza.

NEBRASKA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
ATHLETIC CONFERENCE STANDINGS
                         W-L  PCT    OVERALL
McCook CC        2-0    1.000    11-3
North Platte       1-0    1.000    5-14
Central CC         1-1      .500    10-5
Southeast CC     0-3      .000    3-9

NCCAC RESULTS
Sept. 11 – Central CC 3, Southeast CC 0 (at Columbus)
Sept. 13 – McCook CC 3, Southeast CC 0 (at Lincoln)
Sept. 17 – North Platte 3, Southeast CC 1 (at North Platte)
Sept. 18 – McCook CC 3, Central CC 0 (at McCook)

NCCAC SCHEDULE (All games at 6 p.m.)
Sept. 19 – Central CC at North Platte
Sept. 24 – North Platte at McCook
Sept. 30 – North Platte at Southeast (Lincoln)
Oct. 2 – Central CC at Southeast (Lincoln)
Oct. 8 – McCook at Central CC (Columbus)
Oct. 15 – Southeast CC at McCook, 6 p.m.
Oct. 17 – North Platte at Central CC (Columbus)
Oct. 22 – McCook CC at North Platte, 6 p.m.