MCC Volleyball downs Casper 3-1 to advance to Friday play

CASPER, Wyo. – The McCook Community College volleyball team downed Casper College Thursday 3-1 and will continue in the consolation bracket of the Region IX Tournament Friday. MCC will play Northeastern Junior College at 1 p.m. in an elimination game. NJC was a 3-1 loser to No. 5 Central Wyoming.

"At this point in the tournament we have to play aggressive no matter who we end up playing," said MCC Coach Hayley Kobza.

MCC opened the four-game Region IX tournament slate Thursday winning 25-20, 25-18, 23-25 and 25-19.

In the other matches Thursday, Otero Junior College defeated Northwest College 3-2 and No. 4 Western Nebraska dispatched Laramie County CC 3-0.

"We served well today and that benefited us in the long run," said Kobza. "We ended up with a total of 15 aces."

Fernanda Merancio (freshman, Lamar, Colo.) led MCC with 20 kills, to go along with one assist block.

"Fernanda really helped out as well, as she hit her a career-high of 20 kills and only three errors," Kobza said.

Freshman Jordan Duzenack (Loveland, Colo.) had 11 kills, 11 digs, two aces and one assist block. Victoria Thomas (sophomore, Houston, Texas) added nine kills, 17 digs, one ace and she assisted on two blocks.

Freshman Gabby Caskey (Ogallala) had four kills, 14 digs, three assist blocks and three aces. Gracen Tuttle (freshman, Ogallala) had three assist blocks.

McKenna Crews (sophomore, Loveland, Colo.) had 11 digs and four aces. Freshman Greta Bolognini (Bergamo Italy) had three aces and six digs.

Freshman Jessie Jerome (Rawlins, Wyo.) had 35 assists, 11 digs, five kills, and two blocks. Anna Williams, (redshirt freshman, Cheyenne, Wyo.) had a pair of serving aces.

Western and Central Wyoming will face each other Friday for the Northwest Plains A title. That winner advances to the national tournament. The winner of the consolation bracket Saturday will claim the Northwest Plains B title and will also qualify for the National Junior College Athletic Association national tournament.

"This team doesn't want to be done playing yet and we need to remember that when the first serve takes place tomorrow," Kobza said.

With Thursday's win, MCC improves to 22-11, Casper's season ends at 7-28.

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

REGION IX TOURNAMENT

(At Casper, Wyo.)

WEDNESDAY'S Results

Game 1 – Laramie County def. McCook 3-0

Game 2 – Northeastern JC def. Northwest College 3-1

Game 3 – Western Nebraska def. Casper College 3-2

Game 4 – Central Wyoming def. Otero JC 3-0

THURSDAY SCHEDULE

Game 5 – McCook def. Casper College 3-1 -- Casper (7-28) eliminated

Game 6 – Otero JC def. Northwest College 3-2 -- Northwest College (20-13) eliminated

Game 7 –Western Nebraska def. Laramie County 3-0

Game 8 – Central Wyoming def. Northeastern JC 3-1

FRIDAY SCHEDULE

Game 9 (Elimination game) – McCook (22-11) vs. Northeastern Junior College (19-13), 1 p.m.

Game 10 (Elimination game) – Otero JC (12-26) vs. Laramie County (17-11), 3 p.m.

Game 11 Championship Game – Western Nebraska (31-3) vs. Central Wyoming (22-7), 5 p.m.

SATURDAY SCHEDULE

Game 12 (Elimination game) – Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, noon

Game 13 (Elimination game) – Game 12 winner vs. Game 11 loser, 5 p.m.