SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah, for the Crystal Innviational and competed against four Florida teams.
While the team competed with the four teams including No. 1 Florida Southwestern State College, the Cougars finished the tournament 0-4 despite strong performances from several players.
WNCC opened play on Friday against Hillsborough Community College and fell in four sets 25-18, 25-13, 23-25, 29-27 behind a 13-kill performance from Kyana Gabriel (Hilo, Hawaii) and a 31-dig outing from Alex Gonzalez-Orozco (Gering, Nebraska).
The Cougars followed that up with a match-up against Eastern Florida State College and fell in straight sets 25-19, 25-18, 25-21 behind six kills from Keira Zelada (Lima, Peru).
On Saturday, the Cougars opened against No. 1 Florida Southwestern State College, who is coached by former WNCC assistant coach Cesar Benatti, and gave the top-ranked team all they handle before falling 25-13, 25-13, 25-19 in sets that were closer than the final score.
In that match, Gabriel tallied 10 kills while Natalia Malinowska (Warsaw, Poland) had five points.
WNCC finished the tournament with a close 3-set loss to No. 15 Daytona State College falling 25-11, 27-25, 25-18 behind a 7-kill performance from Dani Cruz (Guadalajara, Mexico) and 14 kills and five service points from Gonzalez-Orozco.
WNCC will look to get on the winning track when they have a road trip to Casper, Wyoming, on Tuesday to face Casper College followed a weekend trip to Cheyenne for the Region IX Challenge in facing Gillette College, Western Wyoming Community College, Northwest College, and Laramie County Community College.

WNCC men earn two ties over the weekend in Iowa

SPENCER, Iowa – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s soccer team didn’t lose or win over the weekend in Spencer, Iowa. Instead, the Cougars had to settle for two ties against opponents Friday and Saturday in Spencer, Iowa.
On Friday, the Cougars faced NJCAA Division II pre-season No. 3 Iowa Lakes and gave Lakers all they could handle. In the end, the two teams had to settle for a 2-2 tie.
Saturday’s contest with St. Louis Community College was similar to the Iowa Lakes contest as each squad scored a goal in each half as the squads settled for a 2-2 tie.
Against Iowa Lakes, WNCC had an opportunity to score early in the game, but the Cougars missed a penalty kick. Iowa Lakes came back and in the 24th minute by Kenta Yagi for the 1-0 lead on a penalty kick. It took a while but the Cougars tied the game before half as Giani Nguili (Andernos les bains, France) scored off an assist from Tomoaki Kamiya (Aichi, Japan) as the two squads went into intermission tied at 1-1.
The second half saw both squads play strong defense for nearly the entire half. Finally, in the 84th minute, the Cougars took a 1-0 lead as Anthony Lemus (Houston, Texas) scored on an assist from Alvaro Abeal (La Coruna, Spain) to go up 2-1.
WNCC couldn’t hold the lead as Iowa Lakes got the tying score with three minutes to play as Florent Lafebvre scored.
Owen Henderson (Greeley, Colorado) had six saves in net for the Cougars.
Saturday’s contest with St. Louis Community College saw the Arches take a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute as Javar Harris scored. WNCC tied the game in the 33rd minute as Abeal scored off an assist from Nicolas Selvaggio (Spain) as the two teams went into intermission knotted at 1-1.
St. Louis took a 2-1 lead in the 65th minute off an assist from Idris El Harrak. The Cougars responded in the 80th minute as Abeal delivered a corner kick and St. Louis knocked the ball into their own goal for the tying score.
WNCC, 0-1-3, will be back in action this weekend when they have road Region IX conference contests at Gillette College on Friday and Casper College on Saturday.

WNCC women capture win over pre-season ranked St. Louis

SPENCER, Iowa – The Western Nebraska Community College women’s soccer team put together a complete game and registered a 2-1 win over St. Louis Community College Saturday in Spencer, Iowa.
St. Lous came into the contest as the NJCAA Division II pre-season No. 14 team in the nation and the Cougars showcased a solid effort in getting their first win of the season.
WNCC head coach Todd Rasnic said his team put together two complete halves to get the win.
“I think the difference is that the girls finally put in two full halves of soccer,” he said. “They are learning to be more physical but finally executed the game plan for a full game and beat the No. 14 ranked St. Louis team. We have a long way to go but made progress today.”
The Cougars put together two strong defensive halves, holding St. Louis scoreless in the first half and then just allowing one early second-half goal.
Offensively, the Cougars got on the scoreboard first with two first-half goals in leading 2-0 at halftime.
Nia Trevino (Greeley, Colorado) scored in the 23rd minute on a long ball that was placed over the back line and had a one-touch goal.
Ten minutes later, Julia Santos (Passo Fundo, Brazil) scored to make it 2-0 off a free kick that was started from Lilian Shindle (Greeley, Colorado) for the second goal.
After that, the Cougar defense stayed tough, allowing just one second-half goal in the 58th minute from Judit Carulla Fabregat.
WNCC goalkeeper Feline Groenwold (Groningen, Netherlands) had nine saves in net for the Cougars.
On Friday in Spencer, Iowa, the Cougars played a tough No. 18 ranked Iowa Lakes Community College squad tough before falling 3-0. The score was scoreless in the first half before Iowa Lakes scored three times in the second half to get the win.
WNCC, 1-3, will be back in action next week with road Region IX conference contests against Gillette College on Friday and Casper College on Saturday.