Rattlers upend MCC Volleyball in four sets

LA JUNTA, Colo. – The Otero Junior College volleyball team took a 3-1 win over McCook Community College in Region IX south division play Thursday.

The Rattlers won 26-24, 23-25, 32-30 and 25-11.

"We need to be better," said MCC Coach Hayley Kobza. "We need to work on doing our jobs for ourselves and for the team."

Sophomore Janie Sommer (Maxwell) was credited with 36 assists, eight digs, two kills and two assist blocks. Sophomore Kaylee Palmieri (Gibbon), had 16 digs. Freshman McKenna Crews (Loveland, Colo.) had 11 digs and three assists.

Freshman Thaynara Isabela (São Paulo, Brazil) paved the way on the MCC attack with 17 kills to go along with eight digs. Sophomore Jordan Jerome (Rawlins, Wyo.) had 16 kills, eight digs and two assist blocks. Sophomore transfer Mia Pena (Greeley, Colo.) had seven kills and two assist blocks.

Victoria Thomas (freshman, Houston, Texas) was credited with six digs, three kills and one assist block. Amerika Jones (sophomore, Honolulu, Hawaii) had two kills, one assist block and one solo block. Freshman Jisell Chumacero (Eaton, Colo.) had four assist blocks.

MCC was unable to take an opportunity to move up in the Region IX standings against a Rattler team that had lost five of their previous six matches, all those losses coming in three sets. Otero takes over third place in the standings at 4-2 (10-20 overall) while MCC falls to 2-4 in the Region IX south division (16-12 overall.)

"We have a quick turn-around so the one thing we can fix if we choose, is our mentality," Kobza said.

MCC will travel to Trinidad State Friday for a 6 p.m. game against the Trojans (1-4, 7-14) for the final regular-season road match before returning to the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center for the final six matches of the season starting Wednesday at 7 p.m. against first-place Northeastern Junior College.

REGION IX SOUTH DIVISION STANDINGS

                               W-L     PCT     OVERALL RECORD, WIN%

Northeastern JC       5-0      1.000              (14-10, .583)

Western Nebraska    4-1      .800                (18-12, .600)

Otero JC                  4-2      .667                (10-20, .333)

McCook                   2-4      .333                (16-12, .571)

Trinidad State          1-4      .200                ( 7-14,  .333)

Lamar                     0-5      .000                ( 4-20,  .167)

MCC REGION IX SOUTH RESULTS

Sept. 24 – MCC 3, Trinidad State 2 (at McCook)

Sept. 25 – Otero JC 3, MCC 2 (at McCook)

Sept. 28 – Northeastern JC 3, MCC 0 (at Sterling, Colo.)

Sept. 30 – MCC 3, Lamar 2 (at Lamar)

Oct. 8 – Western Nebraska 3, MCC 0 (at Scottsbluff)

Oct. 14 – Otero JC 3, MCC 1 (at La Junta, Colo.)

REMAINING REGION IX SOUTH SCHEDULE

Oct 15 – at Trinidad State, 6 p.m.

Oct. 20 – Home vs Northeastern JC, 7 p.m.

Oct. 23 – Home vs Lamar, noon

Oct. 27 – Home vs. Western Nebraska, 7 p.m.

Nov. 3-6 – Region IX Tournament at Scottsbluff