Bronco spikers rally past tough Falcons

A Hitchcock County young fan joins two Falcon cheerleaders in firing up the home crowd during Thursday’s five-set volleyball match against Wauneta-Palisade.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

TRENTON, Neb. — Senior Faith Simpson clobbered 35 of 39 Wauneta-Palisade kills during a five-set comeback win over rival Hitchcock County Thursday evening.

The Broncos (17-5 record) shook off a 25-13 opening loss, only to face defeat again when Hitchcock took that third set 25-20.

However, they unleashed an impressive 25-11 pounding and then took the decisive final set 15-11.

Wauneta-Palisade rebounded from a surprising RPAC early-round upset loss to Dundy County-Stratton on Monday.

Coach Terra Higgins’ also avenged a 2-0 loss against those Falcons on Sept. 9 in the Trenton-Culbertson Tournament.

Simpson added 11 stuff blocks while senior Natalie Rameriz (15 digs) and sophomore Michaela Dukes (10) stopped another 25 Falcon kills from hitting the floor.

The Broncos served eight big aces featuring four from Simpson and Dukes’ three. Senior Destiny Beacham served one ace.

Hitchcock slipped to 14-10 entering Tuesday’s regular-season finale against another tough area foe at Maywood-Hayes Center. Results appear next week.