Sept. 14, 2006

The Northeastern Junior College (NJC) Plainswomen posted a 4-2 mark in the Central Community College Volleyball Tournament in Columbus, Neb. last weekend. The Plainswomen opened the tournament Friday against Eastern Wyoming College and won in two games, 30-22, 30-17. In the second match NJC faced Butler, Kan. Community College and won in straight sets, 30-14, 30-16. Later on Friday the Plainswomen took on Iowa Western College, the 13th ranked team in the nation, and lost in two games, 27-30, 25-30. In Friday's final match NJC played Southeast, Neb. Community College and won in two games, 30-23, 30-13. On Saturday the Plainswomen defeated Cloud County, Kan. Community College and won, 30-21, 30-20. NJC the went into the semi-finals and faced Wetsern Nebraska Community College and lost in straight sets, 24-30, 24-30. WNCC is ranked fifth in the nation while the Plaisnwomen, 9-3, are ranked ninth. "I think we played pretty well in the tournament," said NJC Coach Marci Henry. "I was a little disappointed in our loss to Iowa Western, even though they are a very good team. "The scores were fairly close in both games, but we had chances to win. The teams that we did beat provided good competition. Butler was a team with a lot of heighth, so that provided a good challenge for us." In the final match Saturday NJC met up with WNCC for the second time this season. In the South Sub-Region Tournament on Aug. 26 at Otero Junior College, WNCC defeated NJC in three games, 26-30, 30-23, 11-15. "I feel that in some ways we have made progress since the last time we played Western Nebraska," Henry said. "But not in other ways, but it was good to play them again. "They have changed a few things, but we have as well. So it was interesting to see the different match-ups and the changes. But I thought we played prettty well against both Iowa Wetsern and Western Nebraska, and we showed that we can compete with them." Freshman Thais Hollerbach led NJC in kills in the six matches with 61. Freshman Addie Rdke followed with 42, freshman Tamy Leipelt 33, sophomore Ashley Kauffman 20, sophomore Callie Vrooman 9, freshman Jessica Tjaden 3, sophomore Isabela Lachowski 2 and 1 each for sophomores Stacy Manweiler and Jenny Andersen. Kauffman returned to action in the tournament after suffering an ankle sprain in the South Sub-Region Tournament. Freshman Brittany Palmer led in assists with 88, Manweiler 49 and Hollerbach 8. Radke was tough from the service line with 12 aces, Hollerbach 6, Manweiler 5, Palmer 4, Leipelt 3, sophomore Erin Holbrook and Andersen 2 each and Kauffman 1. Lachowski led NJc in blocks with 15, Leipelt 13, Kauffman and Vrooman 7 each and 4 apiece for Radke and hollerbach. NJc aso played tough defense on the back row as Andersen led in digs with 47, Hollerbach 36, Radke 30, Manweiler 23, Palmer 22 and Leiplet 16. Anderson also received an even 100 serves to help set up the offense, Radke 65, Hollerbach 31 and Kauffman 10. NJC will host Eastern Wyoming tonight (Wednesday) in the Bank of Colorado Event Center at 7 p.m. On Friday and Saturday NJc will compete in the Garden City, Kan. Tournament. in Friday's matches the Plainswomen will play Cowley, Kan. County College at 12 p.m. and at 6 p.m. NJc will take on New Mexico Military. On Saturday NJC will Garden City at 11 a.m. On Tuersday NJC will host lamar Community College in the first South Sub-Region match at 7 p.m.