MCCOOK – The No. 1 Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team captured their 13th straight victory in registering a 25-17, 25-21, 25-20 Region IX South win over McCook Community College Wednesday evening in McCook.
The Cougars, with the win, pushed their record to 21-2 on the season.
In picking up their 13th win of the season, the Cougars had a balanced offense and pretty much led the entire match.
WNCC was led by Barbara Briceno, who finished with a double-double. The 5-foot-11 hitter finished with 17 kills, 10 digs, and eight points. Lara Picht and Brooke Kaawa each finished with 12 kills, followed by four from Kaylee Spreier.
Kaawa also tallied six digs and two points, while Spreier had two digs, five points, and an ace. Picht tallied five digs and an ace.
Also for the Cougars, Bia Berta had 36 set assists, 11 digs, and two points; Genesis Benetiz-Fontanez had 10 digs; Lauren Shaul had three points; Kirstee Trees had four digs and three points; Danika Daum had two set assists and a dig, Larissa Perez had a kill, and Joise Maldonado had two digs and a kill.
The match itself was one where WNCC controlled the first game, jumping out to a 3-0 lead and led 13-6 at one point. McCook did come back to slice the lead to 15-11, but a Briceno kill and two Spreier kills pushed the lead to 18-11. WNCC went up 23-14 on two Kaawa points and one the first set on a Picht kill.
The second game was a little closer to start. McCook took its first lead of the match at 2-1 only to watch WNCC come back for a 4-2 lead. McCook tied the game at 5-5 before a Spreier kill and three briceno points for a 9-5 lead.
WNCC pushed the lead to 18-14 on a Kaawa kill and led 22-16 after two Spreier kills. McCook fought back to cut the lead to 22-19 before WNCC went on to wing 25-21.
The Indians played tougher in the third game as they stayed with the No. one team in the nation for the first half. McCook held a 13-10 lead at one time before a Briceno kill and then two Trees put WNCC up 15-14.
McCook tied the third game at 15-15, but WNCC pushed the lead to 19-16. The Indians cut the lead to one on several occasions, but Spreier served the final two points for the match win.
WNCC will be back in action next week when they travel to southern Colorado for a 3-day trip, facing Otero Junior College Oct. 6, Lamar Community College Oct. 7, and Trinidad State Junior College Oct. 8.