Indians need win to stay in Region IX tourney

STERLING, Colo. -- The McCook Community College volleyball team lost in straight sets to Western Wyoming Wednesday in the second game of the Region IX Tournament and now are relegated to the contender’s round starting Thursday.

After beating Casper 3-1 in the play-in round Wednesday, MCC dropped the first set to Western Wyoming 25-16, and led 20-19 in the second set before the Mustangs went on a 6-0 to win 25-20, and took the finale 25-12.

“We took about 10 steps backward this match, but I told the girls we really can only go forward from here,” MCC coach Hayley Kobza said.

MCC drops to 24-11 and will take on Laramie County Community College (10-23) at 1 p.m. (CT) today.

The Eagles beat Lamar 3-0 in the play-in game Wednesday then lost to Northeastern Junior College 3-2 in the winner’s bracket.

“We will have a tough match (todayagainst LCCC, but I have confidence in this team, I just hope they do too,” Kobza said.

Freshman Fernanda Canedo, (Cochabamba, Boliva) had 10 kills and 11 digs.

Sophomore co-captain Mallory Brown, (Colorado Springs) had five kills and two kills.

The other sophomore co-captain, Kiera Barr, (Granby, Colo.), had 16 digs.

Freshman Heiata Tauota, (Nantes, France) had 22 assists in the match.

In the other contender’s round match Thursday, Eastern Wyoming (23-12) will take on Central Wyoming (14-17), 3 p.m.

An MCC win over the Eagles Thursday extend the season to a Friday match with the loser of the winner’s bracket semi-finals match between Otero (21-9) and the Western Nebraska (26-7).

Western Wyoming entered the tournament as the top seed in the north division with an 11-1 division record and now goes to 24-9 and will take on 16th ranked Northeastern Junior College (22-8) in one winner’s bracket semi-final.

Otero Junior College plays Western Nebraska in the other winner’s bracket match on Thursday.