CASPER, Wyo. -- Over the weekend, the Western Nebraska Community College volleyball fell to Casper College in five games.
Over the last three days, the Cougar players had a lot of soul searching.
When Casper and No. 4 WNCC met up Tuesday night in Casper, Wyoming, the Cougars shrugged off a first game loss and came back in thundering fashion to defeat the Thunderbirds in four games (24-26, 25-18, 25-19, 25-19) to push their record to 15-3 on the season.
Tuesday's win wasn't easy, though. WNCC had to battle against a Casper team that had the knack to come back. That was the case in the first game as WNCC held a 24-22 lead but watched Casper score the next four points to capture the opening set 26-24.
The next three games saw WNCC grab big leads and then watch Casper chip away to get back in the contest. The second game saw WNCC hold a 13-8 lead before a mini comeback saw Casper slice the lead to 13-12. After that, WNCC took control to win 25-18.
The third game was another back and fourth battle as neither team had more than a 3-point lead early. WNCC finally started to pull away, leading 20-15 and finally wining 25-19.
WNCC started strong in the fourth game, jumping to a 15-7 lead and later leading 19-13. The Cougars continued playing strong, holding a 23-14 lead before Casper made a mini run, cutting the deficit to 23-19. WNCC got the ball back on a sideout and then Barbara Rabanal had a ace serve for the match winner.
Rabanal finished with a triple double, knocking up 11 kills, collecting 11 digs, and serving for 12 points. Rabanal also had three blocks.
Jady Gerotto, who missed all of last week with an injury, returned to collect 10 kills and four blocks. Gerotto also had six points, two aces, and two digs. Boogie Tiumalu finished with nine kills and five digs.
Also for the Cougars, Fabiana Andrade dished out 38 set assists along with collecting three kills, five points, and seven digs; Keala Kaio-Perez had seven dig, 10 points, and two aces; Kaylee Spreier had four kills and two blocks; Lara Picht had eight kills and five points; Katy Ernest had three digs; Kennedy Cyza had two kills; and Santanna Mitchell had three points.
WNCC, 15-3, will finally get off the road and have a stretch of five straight home matches this week. The Cougars home-opener will be Thursday at 7 p.m. against Western Wyoming Community College. WNCC will then co-host the WyoBraska Shootout with EWC on Friday and Saturday. The Cougars will play two matches each day, facing Utah State-Eastern and No. 2 Northwest College on Friday and Garden City Community College and Sheridan College on Saturday.
The WNCC and Garden City match will have a coach and player with local ties to the area. Last year's Cougar assistant Jacquelynne Matula is the new head coach of Garden City and former Scottsbluff High standout Makayla Castro is a sophomore for the Broncbusters.