MCC Volleyball tops North Platte 3-1

NORTH PLATTE – The McCook Community College volleyball team opened Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference play Wednesday on the road downing North Platte Community College 3-1 at McDonald-Belton Gym.

The Knights won the first set 25-22 then MCC took the next three sets, 25-14, 25-9, 25-18.

"We need to work on playing consistent through the whole set," said MCC Coach Hayley Kobza.

Sophomore Jordan Duzenack (Loveland, Colo.) led the outside attack with 12 kills and one assist block. Fernanda Merancio (sophomore, Lamar, Colo.) added 11 kills and a solo block and freshman Romina Martinez Castro (Cochabamba, Bolivia) had eight kills along with 15 digs, three assist blocks and three solo blocks.

In the middle, Gabby Caskey (sophomore, Ogallala) was credited with 11 kills and five assist blocks. Sophomore Gracen Tuttle (Ogallala) had four kills and a solo block.

Sophomore Jessie Jerome (Rawlins, Wyo.) filled the stat sheet with 19 assists, 17 digs, eight kills, three aces and one assist block. Freshman Kayten Hagan (Kearney) came in with 15 assists and seven digs.

Greta Bolognini (sophomore, Bergamo, Italy) led the defense with 18 digs and added six assists and an ace. Freshman Caylin Barnett (McCook) had nine digs.

"Overall, I felt like we had a better mental game than our last match, so that's improvement," said Kobza.

MCC takes over the early lead in the NCCAC standings (1-0) and improves to 8-5 on the season. North Platte falls to 0-1 and 3-11 overall.

On Friday MCC opens play in the North Central Texas College Invitational Tournament in Gainesville, Texas against the host school (7-7) at 11 a.m., followed with a 3 p.m. match against No. 12 Blinn College (14-1). On Saturday MCC plays Hill College (4-9) at 9 a.m. and Cisco College (4-7) at 1 p.m.

The next home match for MCC will be Sept. 13 at 6 p.m. against Central Community College.

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

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Here is MCC's remaining schedule in the Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference:

Sept. 13, 6 p.m. – Central Community College at McCook

Sept. 15, 6 p.m. – McCook at Beatrice against Southeast Community College

Sept. 25, 6 p.m. – North Platte at McCook

Oct. 3, 6 p.m. – McCook at Columbus against Central Community College

Oct. 15, 6 p.m. – Southeast Community College at McCook