WNCC volleyball sweeps EWC

WNCC volleyball sweeps EWC
(WNCC)
August 30th, 2023 | WNCC Sports Information

TORRINGTON, Wyo. – After a week off, the Western Nebraska Community College volleyball traveled up the road to face Eastern Wyoming College in the annual Highway 26 Border War battle with the 10th-ranked Cougars coming out on top in straight sets 25-21, 25-23, 25-21 to move to 5-1 on the season. 

Finja Schul, a freshman middle hitter that had nine kills and eight points, said the team played OK in a loud gymnasium. 

“I think we played as a team, especially in the second set when we were a few points behind and then we pushed up our energy to catch up with the other team and tried to be loud,” Schul said. “I think it (the win) brought us together more as a team. It is really hard to play in a gym this loud. We played together and we are getting better with every steps and growing as a team.” 

For the Cougars, it was their first match back after a week off and it was also a tune-up for a weekend tournament in Salt Lake City, Utah, where they will face three ranked teams including No. 2 Miami Dade College. 

Schul said this was definitely a match they needed in preparation for the weekend. 

“I think we have very high energy after Tuesday night and we will be ready for this weekend,” she said.  

All three sets were battles. The first set saw WNCC jump out to a 6-2 lead after three Schul service points. That 4-point lead was soon evaporated as Siale Unufe had two points to bring EWC to within 6-5. WNCC went back in front 8-5 on a Lilly Zwart kill. EWC took their first lead of the night at 10-8 after four Nikoleta Tater service points. 

WNCC went back in front 12-10 on three Zwart points and then led 17-11 after Taylor Tyser served four points. EWC got to within 1-16, but Shanelle Martinez had three points for a 23-16 lead. Ana Djurovic stopped Martinez’ run with a kill for the Lancers and then served three points to bring EWC to within 23-20. WNCC got the ball back on a kill and then moments later Zwart hammered down a kill for the 25-21 first-set win. 

EWC led the majority of the second set. WNCC had leads at 2-1 and 3-2, and the set was tied at 8-8 on a Charli Blackman two service points. EWC came back on three Emma Blackstart points to go up 13-8 and led 19-16 on a Sydney Anderson kill.  

That was when WNCC started a rally Dani Cruz got a kill followed by Martinez with a service points to bring the score to within 19-18. EWC led 21-19 on a Djurovic kill, but Zwart hammered down a kill to put the service into Cruz’ hands. The Freshman from Hawaii had a point aided by a Zwart kill to tie the set at 21-21.  

EWC came back to lead 23-21 when Kyana Gabriel hammered down a kill and then Tyser had two service points for the win as the Cougars won the second set 25-23 on a block. 

Schul said the way they played to come back in the second set was crucial to help them get the sweep. 

“I think that win was important in the second set because of the fans of the other team. They were really, really loud when we were serving and it was really distracting,” she said. “But I think we did a really good job in coming back and getting the win.” 

The third set saw WNCC lead from start to finish as they jumped to a 6-2 lead behind two service points from Martinez and three from Schul. The Cougars pushed the lead to 9-3 on two Cruz points including an ace serve and a Chloe Grady block. 

EWC cut the deficit to three points on several occasions, but Schule had two late service points to make the score 18-11. WNCC led 20-15 and later 22-16 on a Tyser point. EWC mounted a late rally as Neeley Rutledge had a service point to make it 24-21, but Schul finished off the match with a kill and a 25-21 win. 

Martinez had the only double-double for the Cougars, finishing with 35 set assists, 17 digs, nine points, and a kill. 

Schul tallied nine kills with eight points, three assisted blocks, and an ace serve. 

Zwart led the team on the offensive end with 12 kills along with three assisted blocks, three digs, and three points. Cruz tallied 11 kills with four digs, four points, and an ace, while Gabriel finished with five kills and two digs. 

Also for the Cougars, Bewley had eight digs; Tyser had six digs with seven points and two aces; Grady had three assisted blocks with two digs and a kill; and Blackman had three kills, four digs, and four points. 

WNCC, 5-1, will next be in action Friday and Saturday at the Crystal INNvitational in Salt Lake City, Utah, where they will face Miami Dade, Salt Lake Community College, College of Southern Idaho, and Lee College. 

EWC, who drops to 4-6, will be in a tournament in Weatherford, Texas, on Friday and Saturday. 

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