COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa -- The No. 9 Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team opened the season playing well, but suffered a split in games at the Reiver Classic Friday at Council Bluffs, Iowa.

                In the opener, Jady Gerotto had 12 kills and Barbara Rabanal had 11 as the Cougars swept past Ranger College 25-22, 25-16, 25-20. WNCC played spirited against No. 1 Iowa Western Community College, but fell in the end in four sets 25-19, 24-25, 26-24, 25-15.

                WNCC second-year coach Binny Canales said his team played sporadic and he saw areas that the team needs to work on.

                "We didn't play very good. I think we were choppy and played in spurts," he said. "We have room for improvement and we were exposed in certain areas and we are going to work on those."

                The one good thing about these two matches, even though they earned a split, Canales said it gives them a barometer to get better. He did see some good things, but also saw some areas that weren't sharp.

                "We showed that we did some good things and then we did some things where emotionally they broke down," he said. "They need to be more consistent with their game.  They are good enough to play with the best teams in the county; they just have a tendency to not push through."

                And, WNCC played with one of the best teams in the country in top-rated Iowa Western and almost pulled off the win. But, a few shortcomings in clutch situations spelled doom for the Cougars.

                ""We lost a little bit of air at that time [end of the third game] and they found some spots that we need to work on," Canales said. "It is good to learn those early."

                WNCC had some jitters in the opening set against Ranger, trailing 5-1 and 20-17 before capturing the first-game win 25-22. The second game was a little tighter as WNCC held a slim 14-12 lead, but key service runs by Keala Kaio-Perez helped the Cougars to the 25-16 win.

                The third game saw the Cougars build an 8-3 lead and led 18-11 before winning 25-20.

                Rabanal finished with a double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs. The outside hitter from Peru also had an ace and an ace block. Gerotto had 12 kills and four blocks, along with an ace.

                Also for the Cougars, Lara Picht had four digs, four kills, and a block; Kaio-Perez had four kills, two aces, and nine digs; Santanna Mitchell had two kills; Kennedy Cyza had two kills, and a dig; Fabiana Andrade had 22 set assists, 10 digs, and an ace; Fuatino Manu had six digs and an ace; and Katy Ernest had seven set assists.

                The Iowa Western match was a match-up of two top 10 ranked teams and both teams played like it. Iowa Western took control in the first game and held on for the 25-19 win. The second game was opposite as the Cougars played strong, running out to a 17-9 lead behind a kills from Picht and six service points from Kaio-Perez.

                WNCC never looked back after that lead and cursed to the 25-14 win behind the game-winning kill by Rabanal.

                THe third set was a back and fourth contest. Iowa Western led 16-12 at one point, but WNCC fought back to lead 20-17. The Reivers came right back to lead 20-19, but the Cougars answered going up 22-20 on two Andrade points.

                After both teams were tied at 22, WNCC went up 24-22 on a Picht kill. WNCC, however couldn't get the game point as Iowa Wetern scored four straight points to get the win.

                Iowa Western carried the momentum from the third game into the fourth game. The Reivers jumped out to an 8-1 lead. WNCC tried a comeback, traling 18-11 on a Picht kill and later at 25-18, but it wasn't enough as Iowa Western earned the win 25-15.

                Picht, the 5-10 hitter from Germany, had a bit offensive game, tallying 20 kills Picht also had six digs. Rabanal also tallied 14 digs to go with her 15 digs. Kaio-Perez finished with six kills and 12 digs, while Gerooto had six kills, three blocks, and three aces; Shaney Tiumalu finished with four kills,, three blocks, and three digs

                Also for the Cougars, Andrade tallied 41 set assists and 16 digs, while Manu had 14 digs.

                WNCC will wrap up the Iowa Western classic today when they face Grandview College junior varsity at 9 a.m. followed by Jefferson College at 1 p.m. Jefferson fell to Iowa Western in five games also on Friday.