SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. -  The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team pounded down 42 kills and hit .248 as the Cougars swept past Otero College 25-12, 25-22, 25-12 in claiming a conference win Thursday night at Cougar Palace.
The win was a team effort as everyone that suited up saw action and every player sparked the team in some fashion.
“Overall I think we stayed aggressive throughout the entire game tonight against Otero,” Alex Gonzalez-Orosco, who led the team with 11 digs, said. “Even though in the second set we let them catch up to us a bit we didn’t let that get to us and we still closed out that set. We knew what we needed to do to get it done and we did a good job of it.”
Dani Cruz, who pounded down nine kills said in her three years at WNCC, she has seen this team grew the most.
“We played really well. I think we were mainly focused on having fun and enjoying playing with each other,” Cruz said. “In my three years here, I’ve seen the biggest change with this team. Everyone has found their role and that has helped the flow of things, we’re a really young team so it’s really exciting to see everyone grow together.”
What made this game special, however, was playing the game for a cause. Thursday night was Breast Cancer Awareness Night and both teams donned pink uniforms and game together before the match for a group picture as each player held up a sign saying who they are wearing pink for. Gonzalez-Orozco and Cruz said there was a bigger reason to be on the floor Thursday night than usual.
“It’s definitely an important moment for everyone, being able to set aside the competition and know that everyone is playing for a bigger purpose is really special,” Cruz said.
Gonzalez-Orosco said when the two teams came together for breast cancer, it was definitely special.
“It was very cool to see that both of our teams could come together for breast cancer awareness night,” she said. “I think it shows that we all play for something bigger than ourselves and at the end of the day no matter what team we are on, we all can be there and support each other even if we do not know one another.”
While the team teams played for a cause Thursday night, Friday night will be also special as the Cougars host Trinidad State College in a key conference game, where a win Friday would give the Cougars the No. 2 seed for the Region IX tournament, which WNCC hosts beginning November 5. It will also be sophomore recognition night after the match Friday night for the six sophomores.
“Trinidad is going to be a challenging but exciting game tomorrow (Friday) night. We need to work together, have energy, do not let the little mistakes break our momentum, and support each other through the good and hard times throughout the game,” Gonzalez-Orozco said. “There is going to be ups and downs and we need to be able to forget about the last point and move on to the next ball. We also need to be confident in ourselves and our teammates and have fun, I really think that will make the difference. I actually like that we are playing Trinidad for sophomore night, it is going to be an intense match so I think that will help bring out the energy and drive to win.”
Trinidad State is coming into Cougar Palace after falling in straight sets to Northeastern Junior College on Thursday. WNCC know they just need to play their game and don’t worry about making a mistake.
“Everyone is super excited for tomorrow, it’s going to be a really exciting game and whatever happens,” Cruz said, “I think everyone will be enjoying playing in the Cougar Palace as a team one last time before regionals.
Natalia Nowak had a double-double for the Cougars against Otero, tallying 19 set assists with 10 service points. Cruz also had a nice night with nine kills, six digs, seven points, and two aces.
Gonzalez-Orosco finished with 11 digs and seven points with three aces, while Gabriel had 10 digs and seven points.
Also for the Cougars, Emma Hergenreder had five points, five kills, three aces, and three digs; Eli Braithwaite had four kills and two points; Reese Fleck had five points with an ace serve; Keira Zelada had four kills; Maria Niedzwiecka had three kills with two points; Allie Twamley had 16 set assists, six digs, and five points; Anika Davison had six kills and two digs; and Nadiyyah Northern had four kills.
WNCC trailed just once in the first set and that was at 1-0. After that, Nowak served four points for a 5-1 lead and the Cougars led 13-4 after three Hergenreder points and never looked back for the 25-12 win.
The second set was a little tighter. The two squads were knotted at 6-6 when the Cougars went on a 10-4 run to lead 16-10. Otero came back to slice the deficit to 17-16, but a kill from Niedzwiecka and three points from Gonzalez-Orosco put the game at 21-19.
Otero battled back to make it 23-22, but Davison hammered down a kill and Fleck served the final point for the win.
The third set saw Otero lead 1-0, but Cruz got a kill and then Nowak served five points for a 6-1 lead. WNCC led 11-3 after Cruz served four points and the Cougars won 25-12.