LAMAR, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team went to 2-0 in Region IX South conference play with a sweep over Lamar Community College on Friday in Lamar, Colorado.

                The scores were 25-15, 25-12, 25-23 as the Cougars move to 11-10 on the season overall.

                The Cougars will next be in action Wednesday when they face No. 5 Northeastern Junior College in Region IX South play beginning at 7 p.m. at Cougar Palace.

                Friday's win was a team effort as the Cougars were playing without several players because of injuries and sickness. WNCC made short work of the Runnin' Lopes with the team win.

                Kyana Gabriel led the offense attack with 12 kills followed by Lilly Zwart with 11 kills. Dani Cruz tallied six while Finja Schul had four kills followed by Chloe Grady with three.

                No Cougar ad a double-double in the match. Crus was close as she had nine service points with her six kills and six digs along with three aces.

                Shanelle Martinez finished with 31 sets assists with six digs, and three points. Gabriel added seven points, five digs, and two aces to her 12-kill performance. Schul had seven digs with four digs.

                Megan Bewley tallied 14 digs with four points from her libero spot, while Shae Hardy had four digs, seven points, and an ace. Tamika Eastman had a dig, while Grady had three kills and two digs.

                WNCC started the match strong, running to a 9-4 lead before Lamar cut the lead to 9-8. Gabriel then hammered a kill to stop the rally and Schul reeled off six straight points to give the Cougars the 16-8 lead. Shae Hardy closed out the first set with three points for the 25-15 win.

                WNCC started the second set leading 8-4. Cruz then served four points for a 13-4 lead and led 22-11 when Tamika Eastman served the final two points for the 25-12 win.

                The third set was a back-and-forth affair as the two teams were locked in a dogfight. WNCC lead 7-5 on two Cruz points and led 10-6 on a Schul point. The Cougars stretched the lead to 13-9 before Lamar made a comeback with six straight points to lead 15-13.

                Lamar led 21-20 late when Zwart hammered down a kill and then Gabriel served two points for a 23-21 lead. Lamar came back to tie the third set at 23-23 but then had a missed serve and Zwart finished off Lamar with a kill.