Sept. 21, 2005

The Northeastern Junior College (NJC) Plainswomen volleyball team posted a 2-3 mark in the very competitive Raider Invitational Tournament last weekend. The tournament was held at Central Community College in Columbus, Neb. NJC opened pool play in the tournament Friday against Central Community College and lost 2-out-of-3 games by scores of 22-30, 29-31, 16-14. The Plainswomen then took on Eastern Wyoming Community College and won in straight sets, 30-15, 30-18, 15-11. Later in the day NJC faced Des Moines, Iowa and dropped 2-out-3 games, 30-23, 31-33, 8-15. In the final pool play match Friday NJC defeated Neosho, Kan. Community College in 3 games, 30-26, 33-31, 15-9. In the quarter-finals of the bracket tournament Saturday NJC took on Iowa Western Community College, ranked seventh in the nation, and lost 2-out-of-3 games. Iowa Western controlled the first game 7-30, but the Plainswomen battled back to take a 30-26 win in the second set. Both teams fought point-for-point in the third game with Iowa Western pulling out a 12-15 win to take the match. "I was pleased with the way our girls came back to win the second game over Iowa Western," said NJC Coach Marci Henry. "In the third game we just couldn't put the ball away because they put up a pretty big block against us." Henry added that the Plainswomen saw some very good competition in the tournament that should be beneficial as the season progresses. "I think the girls understand now the intensity and aggressiveness it takes to be a top 20 team," she said, "and we showed that against Iowa Western. "We just need to improve on our consistency." Ashley Murphy of the Plainswomen was selected to the All-Tournament Team for her efforts. The sophomore middle hitter recorded 48 kills in 16 games played. She was also tough on the defensive side of the net with 14 blocks. NJC, 6-5, will play at Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne, Wyo. tonight (Wednesday) at 7 p.m. On Friday and Saturday the Plainswomen will once again see some tough competition as they will compete in the North Idaho Tournament in Spokane, Wash. The Plainswomen will play 4 pool matches Friday, opening up against College of Southern Idaho. The rest of the day will see NJC take on Community College of Spokane, Salt Lake City, Utah Community College and Columbia, Wash. Basin Community College. At noon on Saturday NJC will play an all-star team based out of Washington and at 3 p.m. will take on Barton County, Kan. Community College. The tournament will wrap up at 4:30 p.m. for the Plainswomen as they will play Northern Idaho, a team that is currently ranked ninth in the nation. The Salt Lake City team NJC will play on Saturday finished second in the NJCAA National Tournament last year. NJC stats in the Columbus Tournament include: Kills - Ashley Murphey, 48; Janie Elkins, 44; Ashley Kauffman, 35; Isabela Lachowski, 21; Jimilia McNeal, 20; Cidney Legg, 5; Callie Vrooman, 2; Stacy Manweller, 1. Assists - Legg, 125; Manweller, 17; Lachowski, 4; Erin Holbrook, 1; Lindsey Wilson, 1; Elkins, 1; Murphey, 1. Aces - Wilson, 9; Manweller, 7; Murphey, 6; Elkins, 5; Kauffman, 4; McNeal, 1. Digs - Elkins, 48; Wilson, 46; Legg, 33; Manweller, 32; Kauffman, 26; Murphey, 9; Lachowski, 7; Holbrook, 7. Blocks - Murphey, 14; McNeal, 11; Kauffman, 6; Lachowski, 6; Elkins, 4; Legg, 1.