MCC Volleyball losses in five sets to Western Nebraska

The McCook Community College volleyball team lost in five sets to Western Nebraska Tuesday night at the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center. The Cougars won 23-25, 25-14, 25-22, 23-25 and 15-11.

This was the opening match of the Region IX South schedule.

"We just aren't playing with the want and will to win right now," said MCC Coach Hayley Kobza. "And it comes and goes, and even in the first set that we won, it was a struggle."

 Western Nebraska improves to 10-10 and has won seven straight matches over MCC dating back to 2019 and has won 65 of the last 66 meetings of these two schools going back to 1994.

 "I feel like we have so much talent, but we're mentally, individually making it harder to win," said Kobza.

Sophomore Jessie Jerome (Rawlins, Wyo.) had a double-double leading the team in both kills with 12, and assists with 17, to go along with four assist blocks and eight digs. Freshman Kayten Hagan (Amherst H.S.) had 17 assists.

Greta Bolognini (sophomore, Parkview Christian H.S., Lincoln, Neb.) led the team with 19 digs and three aces. Freshman Caylin Barnett (Southwest H.S.) had seven digs and two kills.

Fernanda Merancio (sophomore, Lamar, Colo.) had 10 kills, two solo blocks and two assist blocks. Freshman Romina Martinez (Cochabamba, Bolivia) was credited with nine kills, two assist blocks, one solo block and 12 digs. Jordan Duzenack (sophomore, Loveland, Colo.) had five kills and three assist blocks.

Sophomore Gabby Caskey (Ogallala) had seven kills and six assist blocks and Gracen Tuttle (sophomore, Ogallala) had two kills and three assist blocks.

The loss is MCC's third straight at home to put the home slate at 5-5.

"I would like to think we're great at playing at home but we have not shown that yet," Kobza said. "And that's tough to play at home like that in front of our home crowd so we've really got to focus on what we are doing and stop focusing on what everybody else is thinking what we're doing."

MCC goes to 12-8 on the season, 0-1 in the south region. Next up MCC will host No. 5 Northeast Junior College Friday at 6 p.m. for another Region IX south match followed on Saturday at North Platte against Northeast Community College.

"We're going to have to turn it around real fast because we have games at Friday at home again and Saturday on the road," said Kobza.

Up-to-date information about MCC volleyball including schedules, statistics, rosters and photos can be found on the MCC Athletics website, www.mccindians.com.