Knights win one, lose one in NPCC Triangular

North Platte – The Knights were up against Otero Junior College and Northeast Community College in the NPCC Triangular Saturday.  

The Knights faced Otero first and won the match with a sweep.  

In set one, the Knights took the first point of the game. Points went back and forth between teams with ties at 6-6, 16-16, and 20-20. NPCC pulled away at the end of the set with Tyrah Woods executing a kill that would win the set with a score of 25-21.   

Otero scored the first point of the second set but didn't keep the lead for long. The score was tied several times with both teams staying within a few points of each other the entire set. Avah Stegall won set point, putting the final score at 25-23.   

The Knights pulled out all the stops to take the third set. After Otero scored the first point of the set, NPCC fought back and gained a five-point lead at 7-2. The Knights continued to increase the gap in score until Otero scored a point at 13-5. The Knights didn't let that stop them and continued to keep the other team from scoring too many points at a time. The Knight's largest lead on Otero was eight points 23-16. The Knights won the third set with a block putting the final score at 25-18.  

Morgan Ramsey led the game with 15 kills, three aces and 10 digs. Karley Spillane and Stegall followed with five kills each. Stegall also notched 19 assists. Whitney Chintala contributed 10 digs and Sophomore Tessa Metschke had two aces.  

"I was really proud of how we played," said head coach Alexa McCall. "I thought we played well throughout and worked hard on our side." 

NPCC then took on Northeast Community College and lost 3-0. 

Set one started with Northeast scoring the first point. The Hawks stayed a few points ahead throughout – eventually winning the set with a score of 25-20. 

The Knights won the first point of set two after an impressive rally and maintained the lead until Northeast tied the match at 15-15. The Knights fought back and took the lead again until tying up 24-24. Northeast scored the last two points of the set with a final score of 24-26.  

Northeast won the first point of set three. That time the Knights took the lead 10-9 and kept it until reaching 19. Northeast did not allow the Knights to score any more points and won the game with a set score of 19-25.  

Ramsey led the match again with 15 kills and 17 digs, followed by Spillane with 13 kills. Chintala contributed 22 digs and two aces, while Steggall had 32 assists. 

"It was frustrating to be in control in both sets two and three and have them win both," said McCall. "We have a big weekend coming up next week so we have opportunities to continue to grow."  

Up next: The Knights will be on the road against Southeast Oct. 6 in Beatrice. Next weekend, NPCC will participate in the Ramada Inn Classic in Columbus. There the Knights will face Kansas City Kansas CC and Crowley County CC on Oct. 7 and Dakota College at Bottineau and Neosho County CC Oct. 8.