The top-ranked Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team captured two more wins in the Lady Cougar Classic on a special night honoring the five sophomores.
WNCC opened the tournament with a 25-17, 25-8, 25-17 win over Laramie County Community College and then wrapped up the night by sweeping Eastern Wyoming College 25-14, 25-17, 25-17.
The Cougars now move to 35-3 on the season. It was also WNCC's 22nd straight win since falling to Casper in September.
In other action in the Classic, No. 4 Iowa Western Community College picked up a pair of wins, downing EWC 25-16, 25-6, 25-17 and then capturing a hard-fought battle over LCCC 25-20, 26-24, 27-25.
The Classic continues today with two games. Iowa Western will open the day with a match against Northeastern Junior College at 10 a.m. followed by facing the top-ranked Cougars at 1 p.m.
For Santanna Mitchell, one of the five sophomores that was recognized before the EWC game, it was a good day on the court, but also a bittersweet considering this is the last weekend they will be playing at home.
"We just came out with fire because we knew we needed to pick up the energy level to get three the first two matches today," the Gering High graduate said. "It [the final home games] is bittersweet. But it [the season] is not done yet; we still have a while to go. We have one more home game tomorrow, which will be a good game."
Today's showdown will be a battle of top five ranked teams. The two squads have faced each other once this season and that was back on Aug. 21 when Iowa Western won in four games. Saturday, will be a battle of two heavyweights in the NJCAA. Mitchell said they have to come ready to play in the team's final home regular season contest.
"We definitely have to be mentally focused and ready to go at all times," she said. "Energy, talking, and playing together like the last games will be important. Also, playing with heart is the key."
The Cougars will be ready and the two sweeps on Friday marks the 10th straight match they haven't lost a game. Mitchell said that, along with the 22-match win streak is something they want to keep in tack.
"It would mean a lot [to finish undefeated at home] since we haven't lost at home since 2010," she said. "It would mean a lot and we can do it if we come out ready."
Friday's matches were intense and not easy contests against two scrappy teams. Against LCCC, WNCC briefly in all three games. In the first game, LCCC held a 9-6 lead before WNCC picked It up and led 17-12 on three Fabiana Andrade service points before winning the first game 25-17.
The second game was all WNCC as they received strong serving in running out to a 15-4 lead behind five points from Keala Kaio-Perez. WNCC won the second set on a Mitchell ace serve.
The third game was tight with LCCC trailing 10-6 before the Cougars stretched the lead to 20-13. WNCC finally earned the win on three Kaylee Spreier points.
WNCC had a variety of contributions in the game, led by Barbara Rabanal with nine kills and five digs. Andrade tallied 34 set assists, seven digs, and 11 points, while Jady Gerotto had seven kills, three solo blocks, and 12 points.
In the win over EWC, it wasn't easy. WNC held a slim 5-3 lead in the opening set but pushed the lead to 15-7. WNCC led 21-14 before Mitchell hammered home a kill and then served three points for the game, including back-to-back aces.
The second game was tied at 4-4 until Kaio-Perez served four points for a 9-4 lead. EWC came back to cut the lead to 010-9 and later 14-11 before Gerotto had four service points for a 19-11 lead. The Lancers cut the lead to 20-16 on three points by Sophie Seely, but a Mitchell and Gerotto each had two kills as WNCC won 25-17.
The third game was another battle. WNCC held a slim 6-5 lead and later at 9-7. The Cougars pushed the lead to 16-9 and led 19-11 on a Rabanal ace. After Kaio-Perez served an ace for a 22-121 lead, the Lancers came back to cut the lead to 24-17 on two Shelby Welsh points. WNCC won the match on a Gerotto kill.
WNCC was led by Gerotto, who had 11 kills, two blocks, two digs, and five points. The Cougars also had Kaio-Perez tally 10 digs and 10 points, while Mitchell had five kills, four points, and three aces. Rabanal tallied seven kills and five points, while Andrade had 31 set assists and five digs.
WNCC over LCCC
25-17, 25-7, 25-17
KILLS – Keala Kaio-Perez 2, Santanna Mitchell 5, Kennedy Cyza 4, Shaney Tiumalu 5, Barbara Rabanal 9, Lara Picht 6, Jady Gerotto 7; SET ASSISTS – Fabiana Andrade 34; ACES – Kaio-Perez 1, Picht 1, Gerotto 1; POINTS – Andrade 11, Kaio-Perez 9, Kaylee Spreier 3, Rabanal 2, Picht 3, Gerotto 12; DIGS – Andrade 7, Kaio-Perez 9, Fautino Manu 9, Rabanal 5, Maraea O'Connor 2, Gerotto 2, Katy Ernest 3, Alwaise Villa 3; BLOCKS – Gerotto 4.
WNCC over EWC
25-14, 25-17, 25-17
WNCC STATS
KILLS – Kaio-Perez 2, Mitchell 5, Kennedy Cyza 2, Tiumalu 4, Rabanal 7, Picht 3, Gerotto 11; BLOCKS – Gerotto 2; DIGS – Andrade 5, Kaio-Perez 10, Manu 5, Tiumalu 2, Rabanal 3, Gerotto 2, Ernest 2; POINTS – Andrade 4, Kaio-Perez 10, Mitchell 4, Tiumalu 2, Rabanal 5, Picht 2, Gerotto 5; ACES – Mitchell 3, Rabanal 3; SET ASSISTS – Andrade 31, Rabanal 3, O'Connor 2.