MCC spikers stun No. 17 Cougars on home floor

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. – The McCook Community College volleyball team knocked off 17th-ranked Western Nebraska Thursday night in five sets to close out the Region IX south schedule.

The Lady Indians pulled off the upset in Cougar Palace 25-21, 15-25, 16-25, 25-19 and 15-10.

“(McCook High alum) Jayceea Hanson played the best volleyball I have ever seen her play,” said MCC Coach Hayley Kobza of her 6-0 freshman from McCook. “We changed up our offense and with that she has to get to work every single time, and she did just that.”

Hanson had 12 kills, seven assist blocks and one solo block.

“There was one rally that I am quite sure she had four back-to-back blocks,” Kobza said. “Oh and it was her birthday.”

The win pushes MCC to 6-4 in the south sub-region and 22-10 overall and gives the team the jolt of momentum the coach was looking for heading into the Region IX tournament which starts Nov. 7 in Sterling, Colo. This is MCC’s second win this season over a nationally ranked sub-region opponent having beat then 20th ranked Northeastern Junior College at home Oct. 5.

On Thursday, Freshman Fernanda Canedo, (Cochabamba, Boliva) led MCC with 13 kills and added two assist blocks as well as recording 12 digs. Sophomore co-captain Mallory Brown, (Colorado Springs) had seven kills and one ace.

“But really across the board everyone up on the net played a solid defensive game,” Kobza said.

Freshman Emily Barr, (Hershey) had six kills, one ace, four assist blocks and a solo block. Sophomore Bailey Honn, (McCook) had five kills and four assist blocks. Freshman

Mackenzie Anderson, (Ogallala) was credited with two kills, one ace and two assist blocks.

Sophomore co-captain Kiera Barr, (Granby, Colo.) led MCC with 24 digs and two assists.

Freshmen co-setters Heiata Tauota, (Nantes, France) had 38 assists and three assist blocks and Madison Mendoza, (Ogallala) had 11 digs and two assists.

Western Nebraska ends their season at 25-7 and 8-2 in the south sub-region.

MCC will travel out of conference Saturday for the final regular-season game at Concordia, Kan. against Cloud County Community College.