Knights drop two to open Pinnacle Bank Classic

Columbus, Neb. – Knights volleyball fell in straight sets to Allen County Community College and No. 24 North Dakota State College of Science at the Pinnacle Bank Classic in Columbus on Friday.

Allen County 3 North Platte 0

Jaelyn Dicke tallied 12 kills, 18 digs and one ace against Allen County.

Knights and Red Devils battled back-and-forth to open the first set. North Platte took the lead on a Dicke kill, but the Red Devils waited patiently for their chance to strike. Facing a two-point deficit, Allen County charged back to take the lead on a kill down the line. The margin remained tight over the remainder of the set until a 4-0 run aided in a 25-21 set win for the Red Devils.

Red Devils pounced early in the second set, as back-to-back attacking errors put the Knights behind 10-6. A 4-1 run stretched the margin to seven late in the set before three straight points handed Allen County a 25-15 set win.

North Platte took an early lead in the fourth set, but a 4-1 run reversed the momentum. A 5-0 run helped distance the Red Devils midway through the set before the black and gold called a timeout. Knights attempted to rally late in the set, but a short 3-1 spurt closed out the match.

NDSCS 3 North Platte 0

Nya Lual had a team-high eight kills, while Zoe Maher and Dicke tallied five kills apiece against North Dakota State College of Science.

Knights tested the Wildcats early as three straight points gave them the 3-1 edge. Wildcats rallied to knot the game up at four before stretching their lead to 16-12 midway through the set. A 5-1 run evened the score at 17-17, but the Wildcats offense made the most of their swings to take the set, 25-21.

Knights fell behind, 11-1, to open the second set following eleven unanswered points by the Wildcats. The margin would not be overcome as the Wildcats took the second set, 25-8.

Three straight points helped the Wildcats take the momentum in the third set. North Platte trailed the rest of the way, but a 3-0 run cut the deficit to one on a rotation error by the Wildcats. The Wildcats stalled the swing in momentum as they stretched their lead to 16-9. Knights cut the lead to 21-18 on an ace by Aubrey Grant but was unable to grab the momentum needed to complete the comeback.

North Platte (8-18) will return for the second day of the Pinnacle Bank Classic on Saturday. Knights open the day with Neosho County Community College at 9 a.m.