Knights Volleyball drops opening games of the season

The North Platte Community College volleyball team fell in both of its season-opening games Friday afternoon in McCook. 

The Knights took on Seward County Community College first in the MCC Tournament and lost 3-1. The set scores were: 18-25, 18-25, 25-21 and 15-25. 

Vanessa Wood led the action for North Platte with 17 kills. Jaelyn Dicke contributed nine more while Emily Johnson added eight. EmiLee Walnofer picked up 23 digs. Aubrey Grant passed out 20 assists, and Avah Steggall put up another 14.   

"I thought we competed well against Seward County but would have liked to have seen a better fourth set," said NPCC volleyball head coach Alexa McCall. 

The Knights then took on Western Wyoming Community College and lost in four sets: 20-25, 25-21, 20-25 and 20-25. 

Dicke had eight kills and eight digs in that game. Johnson came through with five more kills, Walnofer went for 17 digs and Samantha Riggles registered five kills and three blocks. 

"Against Western Wyoming, we just got too sloppy with our ball control, which led to too many errors," McCall said. "We have to stay disciplined and execute better to come out on top in sets." 

The Knights will return to McCook Saturday for day two of the tournament. Action begins at noon with a game against Barton Community College. NPCC will duke it out with Otero College at 4 p.m.