Down two sets, MCC rallies for 3-2 road win over Lamar Lopes

LAMAR, Colo. -- The McCook Community College volleyball team fought off a fifth-set match point and came back to down Lamar Community College Friday 3-2 in a reverse sweep.

“We did not start well, and Lamar came ready to win,” said MCC Coach Hayley Kobza.

MCC dropped the first two sets 19-25, 23-25.

“Within our first two sets we gave up more than 20 errors,” said Kobza. “That kills the point game and the mental game.”

The Lady Indians were able to improve the mental game in the third set winning 25-13, evened the match with a 25-23 win in the fourth set and came back from being down 14-13 in the fifth set to win in extra points, 17-15.

Romina Martinez Castro (sophomore Cochabamba, Bolivia) led the MCC attack with 17 kills and added two blocks, two aces and 10 digs. Caylin Barnett (McCook) had 13 kills and an assist block.

Freshman Charlee Russick (Berthoud, Colo.) had 10 kills and two blocks. Ailynn Wright (freshman Sterling, Colo.) added two kills and two blocks.

Sophomore Rowan Tribelhorn (Yuma, Colo.) had seven kills, one block, two aces and three digs. Emerie Rios (sophomore, Sterling, Colo.) contributed six kills, five digs and a block. Freshman Ella Verts (Marshall, Mo.) was credited with three blocks and a kill.

Using the 6-2 offense for the second time this season with two setters, freshman Abby Thompson (Bison, S.D.) had 27 assists and an ace while freshman Megan Walker (Haxtun, Colo.) had 17 assists and eight digs.

Cibeles Bothwell (Spring, Texas) anchored the defense with 20 digs, adding four service aces and three assists.

“Overall, we can be better and need to lock it in mentally the next time we compete,” said Kobza.

MCC improves to 19-8 on the season and 3-3 in the Region IX South Standings. Lamar goes to 6-24 and 1-5 in the south.

Next up MCC will close out the final ever Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference match at North Platte Tuesday starting at 6 p.m.

Up-to-date information about MCC volleyball including livestream links, schedule, statistics, rosters, photos and more can be found on the MCC Athletics website, www.mccindians.com

REGION IX D1 SOUTH

VOLLEYBALL STANDINGS

W-L PCT OVERALL

Northeastern JC 6-0 1.000 22-4

Western Nebraska 5-1 .833 22-7

Trinidad State 3-3 .600 20-7

McCook CC 3-3 .500 18-8

Lamar 1-4 .200 6-23

Otero College 0-6 .000 6-24