STERLING, Colo. -- The No. 4-ranked Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team opened up the Pizza Hut Invite in Sterling, Colorado, in thrilling fashion in earning a come-from=behind win over No. 2 Northwest College.
The second-ranked Trappers won the first two games against WNCC 26-24, 25-16. After that, the Cougars came on strong, winning the next three games 26-24, 25-20, 15-6 to earn their 10th straight win.
WNCC wrapped up the first day with a five-game win over Cloud County Community College 25-16, 23-25, 19-25, 33-31, 15-11 to improve to 13-2 and their win streak to 11 games.
The Northwest contest was the match of the day as the Cougars picked up the team win. WNCC finished with nine different players getting a kill. Barbara Rabanal led the team with 12 kills followed by Shaney Tiumalu had 10 kills.
Also for the Cougars, Kennedy Cyza had a big match, finishing with four kills and six blocks, while Lara Picht had four kills.
Rabanal had a triple double, finishing with 12 points, 14 digs, and four aces to go with her 12 kills. Ernest finished with 11 points and 14 digs.
WNCC also got big performances from Fabiana Andrade who had 33 set assists, eight digs, and six points. Keala Kaio -Perez finished with eight digs and six points.
The Cloud County was also tight. WNCC trailed two games to one and needed extra time to win the fourth 33-31,. They then came back to capture the fifth 15-11.
Against Cloud County, Andrade finished with 60 set assists along with 10 points. She also had four kills and six digs.
Rabanal had a big match against Cloud County, finishing with 30 kills. She also had five points and three blocks, and dug up 15 balls
Also for the Cougars, Picht had 15 kills, Tiumalu had four kills and three blocks, and Cyza had four kills and two blocks. Picht also had 11 digs, while Kaio-Perez had 12 digs.
WNCC, 13-2, will conclude the Pizza Hut Classic today with matches against Casper College and Barton Community College.