SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. -  The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team broke out their new white and light gray uniforms with Cougars down the side and the new uniforms paid off as the Cougars hit .391 for the game in earning a Region IX South Conference sweep over Lamar Community College on Friday at Cougar Palace.
The scores were 22-9, 25-22, 25-14.
The contest saw everyone contribute in some fashion and it was a game that saw plenty of highlights with 41 total kills, five aces, 34 set assists, and 38 digs.
Anika Davison, who tallied six kills in the third set, said the team played well from the start with a few hiccups in the second set.
“Honestly, I think we played really clean and we were focusing because we made these goals before the game in practice and last night. I think we really stuck to those goals,” the freshman from Aurora, Colorado, said. “In the second set there was some confusion with the lineup which was a lot closer. But, ultimately, we pulled it together as we really played as a team today.”
Everyone that was healthy saw action and did amazing things. Davison said it was nice to see everyone contribute in their own way.
“Volleyball is a sport where one person can carry. Every single ball there is at least three touches on it,” she said. “It is final that every single person can contribute and can connect.”
Friday night, Kyana Gabriel led the way with 12 kills followed by Dani Cruz with 10 kills, seven digs, two points, Davison with six kills, and Eli Braithwaite and Allie Twamley each with three kills.
Natalie Nowak had 10 set assists with eight points, all in the opening set, while Twamley tallied 17 set assists, six digs, and four points. Alex Gonzalez-Orozco tallied nine digs with seven points. Emma Hergenreder finished with 11 points, three aces, and five digs. Reese Fleck finished with three points and four digs, while Nadiyyah Northern had two kills and Maria Niedzwiecka had a kill.
Nowak started the match with six straight points as the Cougars led from start to finish in claiming the 25-9 first-set win.
The second set was back and forth as Lamar had an 18-16 lead. Gabriel stopped the momentum with a kill and Gonzalez-Orozco followed with four points to put the Cougars up 22-18. WNCC got the win on a Braithwaite point and a Cruz kill.
The third set was close to start as the Lopes led 9-0 and things were tied at 10. That was when Davison got a kill and Fleck had three points for a 14-10 lead. Braithwaite followed with two more points and Hergenreder had a run of five points with three aces to make it 22-12. WNCC got the win 25-14.
WNCC will be back in action Saturday afternoon when they host McCook Community College at 1 p.m. at Cougar Palace.