Sept. 10, 2007

The Northeastern Junior College (NJC) Plainswomen posted a 3-3 mark against some of the nation's top teams in the Salt Lake City, Utah Invitational Tournament last weekend.

NJC played four matches Friday and won the first two, defeating Jefferson, Mo. college in two games, 30-22, 30-18, and College of Southern Idaho, 30-16, 30-26.

In the evening session NJC took on Illinois Central College and fell in two games, 32-34, 20-30. The Plainswomen closed out Friday's action against Salt Lake City College and lost in two games, 21-30, 29-31.

NJC did post a 2-0 mark in pool play and came back on Saturday to defeat Snow, Utah College, 30-18, 30-24.

NJC closed out the tournament against North Idaho College and lost in four competitive games, 23-30, 24-30, 31-29, 28-30. NJC finished fifth in the tournament out of 12 teams while advancing to the championship bracket.

Eleven out of the 12 teams could very well be ranked in the top 20 in the nation, according to NJC Coach Marci Henry.

In the pre-season polls NJC was ranked 22nd in the nation. Jefferson College landed a number 8 ranking and Salt Lake City at number 4. "I was pleased with the way we played," Henry said.

"I thought we played better than we did the previous weekend. I think we showed that we could play with some of the top teams in the nation."

Through the first five matches of the tournament, sophomore Addi Radke led NJC in kills with 38, sophomore Thais Hollerbach 35, sophomore Tamy Leipelt 30 and sophomore Jessica Tjaden 10. Tjaden had 99 assists and Hollerbach in digs with 54.

On Wednesday (Aug. 29) the Plainswomen hosted North Platte Community College in the first home match of the season and won in four games, 30-20, 30-19, 28-30, 30-18.

NJC will host Eastern Wyoming College tonight (Wednesday) in the Bank of Colorado Event Center, beginning at 7 p.m.