Knights fall in down-to-the-wire match against McCook

McCook, Neb. – Tuesday night's volleyball action between North Platte Community College and longtime rival McCook Community College was nothing short of intense – keeping audience members on the edge of their seats the entire match. 

The Knights ultimately fell to the Indians 3-2. 

Both teams started out strong in the first set. NPCC briefly pulled ahead before being surpassed by the Indians who took a four-point lead, the biggest gap that would exist between the teams the entire frame. 

North Platte fought its way back, bolstered by back-to-back kills by Vanessa Wood and Sam Riggles and a subsequent ace by Wood. The teams would tie three more times before the Knights finally secured a 25-21 victory. 

The second set started out just as close with the teams remaining within a point or two of each other until tying 6-6. Their offense ignited at that point, the Indians surged forward – all the way to a 25-11 win. 

MCC took control of the third set early on and kept it all the way through to the end. McCook closed out the frame 25-19. 

It was North Platte that took the lead in the fourth set. The score was tied four times before the Indians pulled ahead 11-10. The Knights stayed right behind them, prohibiting MCC from completely breaking away. The teams would tie again 20-20 and 21-21 before North Platte flipped the scoreboard in its favor and grabbed a 25-21 win. 

The fifth set saw the lead change hands multiple times. A couple strong plays and a service error put McCook back on top 10-7. The Knights gained some ground at the end, but it wasn't enough, and McCook ended the game 15-9. 

Wood led the play for the Knights with 16 kills, Jaelyn Dicke put down 13 more and Riggles and Emily Johnson had eight each. 

Elsie Ottun recorded 17 assists on the night, and Aubrey Grant had 14. Wood went for 20 digs, Dicke had 16 and EmiLee Walnofer tallied 15. 

"I thought there were times that we battled and played really well, and then other times where we made too many errors to come out on top," said NPCC Head Volleyball Coach Alexa McCall. "We can serve the ball really well, and I thought we got a little complacent in sets two and three. We have a big weekend ahead of us and have to find some consistency." 

The Knights are now 6-13 on the season. 

For their next match, they will travel to Highland, Kan. where they will face off with Highland Community College. First serve is at 4:30 p.m. Friday.