Story by NPCC Athletic Communication
McCook, Neb. – The North Platte Community College volleyball team opened the McCook Invitational with a five-set loss to Iowa Western (25-22, 25-21, 26-28, 15-25, 10-15), before bouncing back with a five-set victory over Northwest College (20-25, 25-21, 23-25, 25-17,15-10) on Friday.
"There were times we looked really good today and then other times that we fell apart," said head coach Alexa McCall.
Iowa Western 3 North Platte 2
Iowa Western built a four-point lead in the opening set. The Knights battled back, tying the set four times, the last at 22-22. Back-to-back aces from Becca Olearnick secured the set for North Platte.
The second set started as a close battle before the Knights answered with a six-point run, sparked by a Remington Stout block and highlighted by three service aces from Merci Koontz, to take a five-point lead. The Reivers pulled within one, but North Platte held on to take a 2-0 lead.
The third set was a back-and-forth battle. Down 24-21, the Knights managed to knot it at 24, but Iowa Western pulled out the 28-26 set win.
The Reivers took control of the fourth set, building a five-point lead midway through before extending it to 10. Iowa Western cruised to the win, forcing a fifth set.
Iowa Western opened the fifth set with a 7-3 lead. North Platte fought to close the gap but ultimately fell to the Reivers.
North Platte 3 Northwest College 2
Northwest jumped out to a 6-2 lead and extended it to seven midway through the first set. North Platte found its rhythm, cutting the deficit to three, but the Trappers held on to take set one.
Northwest again took an early lead in the second, but North Platte battled back. A kill by Khloee Wright gave the Knights the lead, and they carried the momentum to win the set and tie the match 1-1.
The third set followed a similar script, with Northwest leading early. North Platte battled back to tie it at 23, but the Trappers answered to take the set.
Set four stayed close until a tip by Stout sparked an eight-point run for the Knights. North Platte maintained the momentum to force a fifth set.
North Platte took the lead early in the fifth and answered each of Northwest’s five attempts to tie. The Knights held on, sealing the match for a North Platte victory.
"We have the ability to be a good serving team, but we missed way too many serves today," said McCall.
North Platte (4-2) will return to the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center in McCook on Saturday for the final day of the invitational. North Platte opens the day with Eastern Wyoming at 11 a.m., before finishing off with Bulter Community College at 1 p.m.