Lady Indians best LCCC to advance in Region IX tourney

Lady Indians best LCCC to advance in Region IX tourney

STERLING, Colo. The McCook Community College Lady Indians survived the second day of the Region IX tournament Thursday defeating Laramie County Community College 3-1 in the first game of the contender's bracket.

"Overall it wasn't just one or two girls that helped us win the match, it was our whole team and we need to carry that over tomorrow," said MCC Coach Hayley Kobza.

After scoring the first point of the first set, the Lady Indians gave up five straight before coming back to take a 14-12 lead. The Eagles scored three straight to regain the lead 15-14. MCC held a 19-18 edge before LCCC went up 22-20. MCC responded with a 3-0 run to lead 23-22 but the Eagles scored three straight points to close out the first set 25-23.

It was more of the same in the second set as the lead changed five times. Laramie led 15-14 when MCC went on its only 3-0 run of the set, then took the lead for good at 17-15 and holding on for the 25-23 win to even the match at 1-1.

The Lady Indians came out strong in the third set takin a 6-2 lead but the Eagles responded and regained the lead at 11-10 which was the last lead of that set. MCC snapped a 12-12 tie with a 6-0 run and closed out the set 25-20 to put the Lady Indians up 2-1.

Laramie County scored the first three points of the fourth set and led 7-3 when Kobza called a timeout. The Lady Indians responded scoring seven of the next eight points to lead take a 10-8 lead in a set that would change leads five times and be tied nine times. Down 18-16, MCC came alive to score nine of the next 11 points to claim the win and advance to Friday play.

"Fernanda Canedo played outstanding," Kobza said. "It took her the first set to warm up but she finished with a strong 11 kills in the fourth set," Kobza said.

Canedo, (Cochabamba, Boliva), a freshman, led MCC with 22 kills to go along with 17 digs.

Freshman Kallie Cathcart, (Holly, Colo.) had six kills and one assist block. Freshman Jayceea Hanson, (McCook) had eight kills, one ace, one assist block and one solo block.

"Our middles Kallie and Jayceea played a good match too, they were always an option and did a great job of putting their offense out of system," Kobza said.

Sophomore Mallory Brown, (Colorado Springs) had 10 kills, eight digs and two aces. Sophomore Bailey Honn, (McCook) was credited with three kills and two assist blocks.

Sophomore Kiera Barr, (Granby, Colo.) had 26 digs, four assists and one ace. Freshman Heiata Tauota, (Nantes, France) had 38 assists and 14 digs. Freshman Quinci Johnson, (Nunn, Colo.) had 10 digs and one ace.

The win gives the Lady Indians their 25^th win of the season and sets up a 1 p.m. match Friday against the loser of tonight's semi-final winner's bracket game between Western Nebraska and Otero Junior College.

Laramie County finishes the season at 10-24.

MCC's match Friday and all Region IX tournament games will be livestreamed through the Northeastern Junior College Volleyball Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/NJCVolleyball/

In the other contender's bracket game Eastern Wyoming beat Central Wyoming 3-1.

In the winner's bracket games it was Northeastern Junior College advancing to the championship game with a 3-2 win over Western Wyoming. Otero Junior College was up 2-0 over Western Nebraska and leading the third set 18-10, when there was a medical emergency that suspended action. That game is scheduled to resume at 11 a.m. Friday. MCC will take on the loser of that game at 1 p.m.

REGION IX TOURNAMENT
Wednesday Play-In Games
Match 1 -- Laramie County 3, Lamar 0
Match 2 Otero 3, Northwest College 0
Match 3 -- Central Wyoming 3, Trinidad 0
Match 4 McCook 3, Casper 1
Wednesday Winner Bracket Games
Match 5 Northeastern JC 3, Laramie County 2
Match 6 Otero 3, Eastern Wyoming 2
Match 7 Western Wyoming 3, McCook 0
Match 8 Western Nebraska 3, Central Wyoming 1

Thursday Winner Bracket Games
Match 11 Northeastern JC 3, Western Wyoming 2
Match 12 Otero leads Western Nebraska 2-0 and 18-10 in the third set, game postponed until 11 a.m. (CT) Friday.
Friday's Winners bracket match
Match 15 Northeastern JC (23-9) vs. vs Match 12 winner, Friday, 5 p.m.

CONTENDER'S BRACKET ROUND
Match 9 THURSDAY: McCook 3, Laramie County 1
Match 10 THURSDAY: Eastern Wyoming 3, Central Wyoming 1
Match 13 FRIDAY: McCook (25-11) vs. loser Match 12, 1 p.m.
Match 14 FRIDAY: Eastern Wyoming (24-12) 10 vs. Western Wyoming (24-10), 3 p.m.
Match 16 SATURDAY: Winner of Match 13 vs. Winner of Match 14, 1 p.m.
Match 17 SATURDAY Loser of Match 15 vs. winner of Match 16, 3 p.m.