Colby tops MCC volleyballers in 4-set slugfest

Grant Strunk/McCook Daily Gazette McCook Community College volleyballer Ashley Palic dives to the floor for a "pancake" dig during MCC's match against Colby Community College Monday. The Bison alum was 19-for-24 on attacks and 7-for-9 on serves, with 3 digs and 2 blocks. Colby's squad downed the Indians in four sets, 25-20, 19-25, 25-22 and 25-23. [Click to enlarge]

The McCook Community College Indians volleyball team, playing host Monday night to Colby Community College's Trojans, absorbed a tough four-set loss. The scores were 25-20, 19-25, 25-22 and 25-23.

"We definitely had our chances to come away with a win at home tonight," said head coach Michelle Reiners. "We made crucial errors at critical times in the match."

Reiners added, "Our serve receive was better than this past weekend at the Wyo-Braska. Our hitters didn't do a very good job of taking care of the ball tonight."

Colby Community College's Lisa Faimon, a Stratton native, hammers a spike past MCC's Amanda Hester and Ashley Palic. [Click to enlarge]

"We need to eliminate those mental errors and we will be an even more competitive ball club," the coach commented. "We also need to capitalize on keeping the serve. We missed serves at pivotal times in each set."

Reiners said that this coming weekend will be a big one, as the Indians will face off against three sub-region opponents.

"We need to eliminate our unforced errors, which in turn will help our offense and defense stay in system," the coach said.

MCC travels to Trinidad, La Junta and Lamar, Colo. this Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

MCC/CCC Stats

Assists: Jasmine Waggnor-19 assists (97-97)

Blocks: Amanda Hester-5 aces, Joanna Bryant and Brittney Halligan-4 apiece, Ashley Palic-2, and Tara Wille-1

Service: Hester 21-22 (12 pts, 2 aces), Wille 20-21 (8 pts, 4 aces), Waggnor 18-18 (4 pts, 2 aces), Bryant 13-15 (6 pts, 1 ace), Halligan 8-9 (1 pt), Palic 7-9 (1 pt)

Attacks: Bryant 21-24, 6 K; Hester 14-18, 6 K; Palic 19-24, 4 K; Wille 22-27, 4 K; Halligan 18-21, 3 K; Waggnor 6-6, 3 K

Digs: Bryant-12, Wille-7, Powell and Halligan-5 apiece, Palic-3, Waggnor-2

Wyo-Braska tournament results

Torrington, Wyo. and Scottsbluff

9/2409 - 9/26/09

Dawson CC 19-25, 25-22, 17-25, 18-25-L

Casper CC 19-25, 12-25, 13-25-L

Northwest Wyoming CC 14-25, 14-25, 23-25-L

Western Wyoming CC 12-25, 14-25, 9-25-L

Eastern Wyoming CC 20-25, 18-25, 19-25-L

Air Force Prep 17-25, 24-26, 14-25-L

Sheridan College 16-25, 17-25, 14-25-L