Volleyball Goes 3-1 in Hutchinson

Sept. 24, 2018, Sterling, Colo. – In recent volleyball action, the Plainswomen volleyball team traveled to Hutchinson, Kan. to play in the Blue Dragon Invitational. Northeastern played against some top-ranked talent included No. 2-ranked Iowa Western Community College. These teams proved to be tough competition for the women as each played the Plainswomen well.

The first game was against Indian Hills, who like Northeastern, were receiving votes nationally to be ranked as a top team. The first set pushed to the end, but Northeastern topped the Warriors 25-22. Set two was another tough battle, but just like the first, the Plainswomen won 25-22. In the third, Northeastern got in a groove and defeated Indian Hills 25-21, winning the match in three. Sara Antic ended with 10 kills, 17 digs, and one ace. Kacey Jaeger had seven kills and nine digs, and Julia Gutierrez-Mas had three aces. MacKenzie Wells ended the game with 22 digs and three aces.

The second game of the invite was against Jefferson College. This game was a much easier task for the Plainswomen, as they won 25-15, 25-18, and 25-8. The Plainswomen handled their business early, which allowed them to rest for the next day, which ended up being their toughest day. Stat leaders against Jefferson were Kacey Jaeger with 12 kills; Sara Antic with eight kills and two aces; Sofija Pajevic with six kills, 37 assists, and seven aces; and Julia Guiterrez-Mas with four aces and 14 digs.

The second day featured a much different opponent as the Plainswomen played the Iowa Western Reivers. The Reivers are ranked No. 2 in the nation, which meant the game was going to be a battle. The first set Northeastern scrapped to hang in with Iowa Western, but the Reivers tacked together a rally and defeated the Plainswomen 25-17. The second was much different, as the Plainswomen could not get anything past the Reivers and lost 25-8. The Plainswomen tried to save set three, but Iowa Western showed why they were ranked at the top and defeated Northeastern 25-18, winning in three.

In the fourth and final game of the invite, the Plainswomen played the host team, the Hutchinson Blue Dragons. Hutchinson showed they were a great matchup for Northeastern as they pushed the game into five sets. In the end, Northeastern proved to be the superior team and defeated the Blue Dragons. Stat leaders against Hutchinson were Kacey Jaeger with 20 kills; Sara Antic with 19 kills and 28 digs; Taylor Burns with 13 kills; MacKenzie Wells with 37 digs; and Sofija Pajevic with 69 assists and four aces.

The Plainswomen will get a small break before they travel to play a three-day road trip against Region IX opponents Lamar, Trinidad, and Otero.