Northeastern Takes Down #2 Western Nebraska in Thriller
The Plainswomen volleyball team hosted the Western Nebraska Cougars in a recent Region IX conference matchup. The Plainswomen wanted to keep their hot streak going after their past three conference wins. Being able to protect their home court is vital when it comes to conference play and the Plainswomen did not want to lose their edge. Coming into the match, Western Nebraska was ranked at #2 in the recent NJCAA poll. The ladies knew that the Cougars had a lot more riding on the game than they did, so they could put it all out on the line.
In the first set, it was apparent that the Plainswomen were focused in on the task at hand, and nothing was going to get in their way. Northeastern jumped out to an early lead, and even at one point leading 12-6. It didn't matter what the Cougars tried to stop NJC, it didn't work and the Plainswomen were getting kill after kill. The Plainswomen would come away with set one with a score of 25-20.
Going into the second set, it seemed as if the Cougars were a little taken back by how well the Plainswomen were playing. The Plainswomen however knew that this was a normal game for them when the game plan is executed to the "T". As the second set played out, it was still the same outcome with Sara Antic serving aces, Bailey Schumacher and Emily McCurley digging balls, and Kacey Jaeger and Ashlyn Martinez getting kills. The gun-shy Cougars couldn't seem to find a way to stop the Plainswomen which would lead to the NJC win 25-18.
If the Plainswomen wanted to win, they needed to carry over the energy they had into the third set because everyone knew that WNCC was coming for them. The Cougars were ranked #2 in the nation for a reason, so there had to be something left in the tank for them to make a run.
In the third set, it was exactly what everyone knew it would be; a battle. The game was back and forth all way to the end. The Cougars were able to get a few point lead on the Plainswomen, but the Plainswomen were able to claw and scratch their way back into it. With the game tied at 24, both teams had a chance to win it, but errant serves and lackadaisical hits allowed both teams to get game point. It was the Cougars who would make the least amount of errors and win the set 28-26.
With the Cougars winning the third set at the end, the Plainswomen lost some energy after how it shaped up to be. Nevertheless, the Plainswomen knew they could beat the Cougars, it would just come down to heart. The fourth set was another one in which it could have been anyone's game. Northeastern would trail, but get a string of rally's together to bring it back to a draw. But as the set progressed, WNCC would have the upper hand and win 25-22.
Set five; do or die. Both teams knew what to do. Both teams knew how to do it. Who could be the most precise.
The final set would start off with NJC getting the first serve and scoring first. After that it was rally after rally, scoring back and forth for both teams. It would be the Cougars who would get to the halfway point first to make the teams switch ends. Again, points were exchanged faster than bad presents after the holidays. As the score closed the gap to determining who would be the match winner, the Plainswomen would get the first crack at winning it. The Cougars would not go down without a fight and would place a few hard hits to even the score up. Not to be outdone, the Plainswomen would too weather the storm and then get up a point. Then with match point on the line, the Cougars would have a key block, but Noel Phillips would be there to dig it up and get it over the net. The Cougars would then try to hit it over the net, but then be called for a net violation, which would be the final point giving the Plainswomen the win 17-15.
That victory would be the second time that the Plainswomen have beaten a top 10 ranked team this year.
The Plainswomen will now get a short break before making the three day road trip to play Lamar, Trinidad, and Otero beginning Thursday October 19.