Sept. 14, 2006

By Anthony Arroyo Journal Advocate sports reporter

STERLING - The Northeastern Plainswomen raised their record on the season to 10-3 last night after a dominating match against Eastern Wyoming College at the Jackson/Edwards Center.

Although some players missed practice because of personal reasons, NJC managed to pick up the win in straight sets, 30-22, 30-14, 30-21.

"Coming into this game we were missing some players (due to personal reasons)," head coach Marci Henry said after the win. "I think it made it difficult for us early on trying to play together as a team, but for the most part, we played really well."

Even with the margin of victory in a game was no less than eight points, the games were close early on. After a couple of timeouts and timely serving down the stretch, the Plainswomen had what it took to put their opponent away when it mattered.

"We did a great job scoring from rotations one and two, but we needed more production from rotations three, four and five," Henry said to her players in the 10 minute intermission between game two and three. "They did a lot better in that third game."

Throughout the match, leading the way last night was freshman sensation Thais Hollerbach, recording double-double, scoring a game-high 14 kills and 14 digs for the match. Sophomore Ashley Kauffman added 10 kills with freshman Addi Radke getting nine and sophomore Isabela Lachowski contributing with seven.

"We relaxed out there had fun like we know how," Radke said about the progression of the game. "We are in the stage where we are trying a couple of new things, and sometimes we get a little tense. We need to just go out there and play like we know how."

Other notable stats to hit on: Radke, Hollerbach, Lachowski and freshman Leipelt each had two blocks up front. Freshman libero Jenny Andresen had 11 kills on the night. In the two setter offense, setters Brittany Palmer and Stavy Manweiler each had 24 and 19 respectably.

"We raised the level on intensity throughout the game," Palmer said. "As a team, we need to eliminate our service errors and play hard through the whole game. We are tough to beat when we have that combination working."

The Plainswomen can only enjoy the win for one day, as they go right back to work when the team travels to Garden City, Kan., for a tournament where they will play Cowley County and New Mexico Millitary on Friday and conclude with the host Garden County on Saturday. Northeastern's next home game will be next Tuesday, Sept. 19 against Lamar Community College at 7 p.m.

"We are making some adjustments and trying some new things," Henry said.

Anthony Arroyo can be reached at 522-1990, Ext. 232 or by e-mail: aarroyo@journal-advocate.com