CASPER, Wyo. – The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team went on the road to Casper College and dropped a four-setter 25-19, 25-20, 16-25, 25-23 non-conference match to the Thunderbirds Tuesday night.

                The Cougars managed 37 kills in the match and had seven aces, but the Thunderbirds, who received votes in this week's NJCAA national poll, was led by Nia Surman and Mia Hutchinson on the night.

                WNCC's Dani Cruz and Lilly Zwart each tallied eight kills each followed by seven from Kyana Gabriel, six from Chloe Grady, five from Finja Schul, and two from Shanelle Martinez.

                Martinez also tallied 30 set assists, eight digs, nine points, and three assist blocks. Schul had two points, two aces, two digs, and five assisted blocks, while Gabriel had seven points, two aces, and three digs.

                Also for the Cougars, Taylor Tyser had 17 digs and eight points; Megan Bewley had 10 points and nine digs; Maya Angelova had an ace serve; and Charli Blackman had two digs and a kill.

                WNCC fell behind early in the first 6-2 and later 13-6. WNCC cutting the deficit to 18-14 on two Martinez points. It wasn't enough as Casper registered the first-set win.

                WNCC got behind the 8-ball in the second set once again with Casper leading 10-3. The Cougars bounced back to trail 14-12 after two points from Gabriel. WNCC trailed 21-19 late after two Martinez points, but Casper snuck out the 25-20 win.

                WNCC started the third set strong, rolling to a 14-7 lead behind four points from Tyser and five points from Bewley. WNCC led 17-9 before Casper tried to make a comeback, cutting the Cougar lead to 17-12. Things changed as WNCC went up 22-13 on a Gabriel kill and service points and they won the third set 25-16 on two Tyser points.

                The fourth set was a battle. Both teams were knotted at 6-6 before Casper went up 11-7. WNCC bounced back to grab a 14-13 lead on two Gabriel points. Casper went back in front 16-14 only to watch WNCC tie the set a number of times. With the score knotted at 21-21, Casper went up 24-23. The Cougars, behind a kill from Schul and a point from Gabriel, cut the deficit to 24-23, but Casper got the final kill for the win.

                WNCC, 13-13 on the season, will be back in action this weekend with two Region IX South conference games when they host Lamar Community College at 7 p.m. on Friday and then McCook Community College on Saturday at 2 p.m.