Oct. 8, 2005

STERLING - While the Northeastern Junior College volleyball team was putting together an impressive 11-game win streak over the past few weeks, they were never really tested. That all changed Friday night when the Plainswomen opened the Pizza Hut Invitational at Jackson Edwards Arena against Midland, Tex., the No. 10 team in the country.

The Plainswomen got an impressive win to keep the winning streak alive and prove that they belong with the country's elite.

What's more, Northeastern got a three-game sweep before a partisan crowd.

Northeastern did a good job getting to loose balls and controlling the net.

While Midland kept it close throughout the three games, Northeastern's size up front, featuring 6-foot-3 Shelby Heggie, 6-foot-4 Ashley Murphey and 6-foot-4 Bela Lachowski, was too much.

Outside hitters Ashley Kauffman and Janie Elkins had solid games, keeping up the trend they began early in the season.

Dan Nied/Journal-Advocate Northeastern sophomore Shelby Heggie has her eye on the ball Friday in a win over No. 10 Midland in the Plainswomen's first game of the Pizza Hut invitational.

They were both forces in the match, as was defensive specialist Lindsey Wilson and setter Stacy Manweiler.

The Plainswomen were without middle hitter Jimilia McNeal, who was ill.

McNeal's defensive presence at the net was missed, but Murphey and Lachowski did a good job in her absence.

The result of Northeastern's second match of the night -against Central Community College of Columbus, Neb. - was not available at press time, however the Plainswomen battled back from behind, two games to one, to force a fifth and deciding game.

Central is one of the top ranked teams in NJCAA Division II.

The Plainswomen resume the tournament today with a 10 a.m. match against Garden City, followe by a match against Casper at 1:30 p.m. and finish the tournament against Colby and 3 p.m.

The win over Midland improved Northeastern's record to 21-9 on the season.

Just a few weeks ago the Plainswomen were struggling at 9-9.

Since then they have found their identity as a team, and found consistency at setter with Manweiler and depth in the front court with the emergence of Heggie.