Knights sweep Runnin’ Lopes to end regular season

North Platte, Neb. – North Platte Community College volleyball team swept Lamar Community College on Saturday afternoon inside the McDonald-Belton Gymnasium.

Nya Lual hit .267 with 13 kills, one solo and three assisted blocks. Jaelyn Dicke notched nine kills with four aces, while EmiLee Walnofer tallied 18 digs in the match.

Knights jumped out to a 5-0 lead behind two aces from Aubrey Grant. North Platte continued to hold the Runnin' Lopes off while they stretched their advantage to 21-11. Lamar fought off three set points as they marched back within five on a 6-1 run. Knights fielded the next serve cleanly before Dicke fired one into the heart of the defense to end the first set, 25-19.

Lamar took their first lead of the match early in the second set. A kill by Zoe Maher ignited a 6-0 run that reversed the momentum in favor of the black and gold. The margin grew to eight late in the set before a 6-1 run gave the Knights a two-set advantage.

The momentum belonged to the Runnin' Lopes to begin the third set as they jumped out to a 10-4 lead. A 7-1 run narrowed the margin to one, but Lamar continued to hold the advantage late in the set. Trailing 17-16, the Knights unleashed three straight points to take a two-point lead on a kill from Dicke. Lamar battled back to knot the game up at 20-20, but North Platte used a 5-1 run to close out the match.

Knights (13-23) will host the Region IX semifinal against Southeast Community College on Wednesday. First serve is set for 6 p.m. inside the McDonald-Belton Gymnasium.