MCC Volleyball drops Wednesday match to UNK JVs

The McCook Community College volleyball team lost three straight sets to the University of Nebraska-Kearney JV squad Wednesday at the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center. The UNK JVs won 25-21, 25-19, and 25-15.

"It's not really what we wanted two games before regionals, but on the positive side this match taught us where we really need to focus before the post season," said MCC Coach Hayley Kobza. "But we're O.K., we just have to move forward and fix a few things."

MCC moves to 20-10 on the season and the team will wrap up the regular season Friday at home for Sophomore Night against Lamar Community College starting at 7 p.m.

Freshman Fernanda Merancio (Lamar, Colo.) topped MCC in kills against the Lopers with 11. She also had one assist block. Jordan Duzenack (freshman, Loveland, Colo.) had eight kills, two assist blocks and an ace.

Victoria Thomas (sophomore, Houston, Texas) had five kills, one ace and six digs. Sophomore Jisell Chumacero (Eaton, Colo.) came up with two kills and four assist blocks. Graen Tuttle (freshman, Ogallala) had two kills. Anna Williams, (redshirt freshman, Cheyenne, Wyo.) had one.

Jessie Jerome (freshman, Rawlins, Wyo.) led MCC with 26 assists and nine digs, to go along with three kills, one ace and one assist block. Alexis Pontine (freshman, Ignacio, Colo.) had two assists.

McKenna Crews (sophomore, Loveland, Colo.) had eight digs and Gabby Caskey (freshman, Ogallala) had five digs.

"Our offense was good, but it wasn't great because we didn't pick up a lot of balls and didn't' get that opportunity to showcase our offense," Kobza said. "So our defense was lacking, but we can fix those things in practice."

Friday's opponent, Lamar is still looking for its first south sub-region win of the season and are 1-20 overall.

With a win Friday, MCC can clinch at least a second-place tie in the south standings with Northeastern Junior College at 7-3. The Plainswomen (5-3) finish up at home against Otero Friday and Trinidad State Saturday.

NJC and MCC split their matches but Northeastern holds the tiebreaker advantage with a 4-3 edge in set wins in their season series. A win Friday would also give Kobza her best ever mark against south region opponents, 7-3.

Western Nebraska has clinched the title in the south with an 8-0 mark and they will be the south's top seed in the Region IX Division I tournament and will face the No. 4 seed in the north. Central Wyoming is 8-0 in the north and clinched the top seed and face the fourth seed from the south. While the final seeding will be determined after Saturday's matches, MCC and NJC will face the second and third place teams in the north to start the Region IX tournament.

For the first time in recent Region IX tournament formatting, only the top four teams in each sub-region advances to the post-season tournament. Western Nebraska, McCook and Northeastern have all clinched spots in the tournament from the south while Central Wyoming and Laramie County Community College have clinched spots from the north.

For all the up-to-date information on MCC volleyball this season including, schedules, statistics, rosters and photos, please visit the official website of MCC Athletics at mccindians.com

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REGION IX

SOUTH STANDINGS

                                    W-L     PCT.          OVERALL

Western Nebraska      8-0       1.000              27- 3    

McCook CC                6-3         .667              20-10   

Northeastern JC         5-3         .625              16-12  

Otero JC                    4-4        .500              11-23   

Trinidad State JC        2-6         .250                7-20   

Lamar CC                   0-9         .000                1-20   

Remaining Region IX SCHEDULE

Thursday – Otero JC at Western Nebraska, 7 p.m.

Friday – Lamar at McCook (Sophomore Night), 7 p.m.

             – Otero JC at Northeastern JC, 7 p.m.

             – Trinidad State at Western Nebraska, 7 p.m.

Saturday – Trinidad State at Northeastern JC, 3 p.m.

NORTH STANDINGS

                                    W-L     PCT.          OVERALL

Central Wyoming        8-0       1.000              18- 7

Laramie County CC     6-3         .667              15-10

Northwest College       5-3         .625              19- 9

Casper College            3-6        .333                6-25

Eastern Wyoming        2-7         .222                3-20

Western Wyoming       1-7         .125                6-25

Remaining Region IX SCHEDULE

Friday – Western Wyoming at Northwest, 6 p.m (MT)

           – Casper at Central Wyoming, 6 p.m (MT)

            – Eastern Wyoming at Laramie CCC, 6 p.m (MT)

Saturday – Western Wyoming at Central, 2 p.m. (MT)

    – Casper at Northwest, 2 p.m. (MT)

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Nov. 2-5 – Region IX Tournament at Casper Wyo.