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High-ranked Cougars take down MCC at Region IX
CASPER, Wyo. — Eleventh-ranked Western Nebraska had cruised past the first two opponents in the Region IX Tournament in six sets, but MCC put an end to that Thursday, opening the match with a 26-24 first-set win.
However, the Cougars responded taking the next three sets and advance to the first championship match Friday against No. 12 Northeastern Junior College.
“That first set was some fun volleyball to watch,” MCC coach Hayley Kobza said. “Errors were low and everyone was attacking on the net. We played a little complacent the next few sets and of course that didn’t go well.”
The Cougars came back to win the second and third sets by identical 25-18 scores but MCC responded with a tightly contested fourth set that was back and forth for most of the way.
Sophomore Fernanda Canedo (Cochabamba, Boliva) paced the MCC attack with 18 kills, along with 12 digs and a block.
Four players had four kills: sophomores Mackenzie Anderson (Hyannis), Kallie Cathcart (Holly, Colo.) Emily Barr (Hershey), and freshman Jordan Jerome (Rawlins, Wyo.). Anderson also had two assist blocks, Cathcart had a block and 12 digs.
MCC (17-11) looks to eliminate LCCC a 2 p.m. (MT) matchup today.
MCC’s bump to the consolation round leaves the Lady Indians one of five teams vying for the second national tournament bid available from Region IX. LCC, (12-11) was the third seed in the north and opened the tournament with a 3-0 win over Lamar but lost a second-round NJC 3-0. On Thursday the Golden Eagles knocked out the north’s top, seed Casper 3-1 to advance to the elimination game with the Lady Indians Friday.
The other elimination game Friday will feature the north’s second seeded Central Wyoming against Otero.
Casper College is live-streaming all the tournament games on their Youtube channel at: