Nov. 5, 2007

By Anthony Arroyo

Journal-Advocate sports reporter

TRINIDAD -- The Northeastern Junior College Plainswomen put up a great showing against host Trinidad State Junior College, but fell once again to Western Nebraska Community College to finish second in the Region IX Tournament.

Great serving allowed NJC to cruise by TSJC 30-11, 30-20, 30-24 in the opening match of the day. After a short break, the women remained competitive, however, still couldn't get over the hump against WNCC, 17-30, 28-30, 23-30.

The Plainswomen finished their season with a 41-14 overall record, a four win improvement from 2006. "We had a great season," Northeastern head volleyball coach Marci Henry said. "We played well in the regional tournament and I was pleased to see that we actually competed against Western Nebraska. They gave it all they had."

The host team, Trinidad State, made it much farther than what many had thought they would, upsetting Otero and then defeating Lamar to make it to the semifinal match with NJC. Fortunately, Northeastern was on fire serving, thanks to freshman Suyan Leipelt's 11 aces to lead the way for the team. After the game was tied at three-all, Leipelt up to serve turned into a 10-0 run to advance the score to 13-3. NJC kept the lead at 10 until the score reached 20-10 and then from there, a 10-1 run, with sophomore Jessica Tjaden serving the last eight points, closed out the game.

Northeastern's great serving continued, allowing them to jump out to an early 7-1 lead after an ace by Leipelt. Back-to-back kills by sophomore Addi Radke made the contest 9-3 and a tip by Tjaden made it 10-3. Sophomore Thais Hollerbach got into the picture with a kill to jump the score to 15-4 and a huge stuff block by fellow sophomore Tamy Leipelt capped off a 10-2 run.

TSJC would finish the game on a little run, but the deficit was too much to overcome. "Serving was the key for sure," Henry said of the team's success. "We made it very difficult for them to compete with our serves. They couldn't pass well because of it, which allowed us to set up our offense." The Lady Trojans put up a small front in the final game, but a 9-3 run broke a 21-21 tie that gave the Plainswomen the match. A final kill by Radke sent the team into the championship match against WNCC. In the past, coach Henry had stated the team didn't compete against Western Nebraska, but that wasn't the case in a win or go home match-up. It's just that the Lady Cougars are just that good.

"They are a very good team with great hitters and they pass the ball well," Henry said of her opponent. "I was proud to see that we competed with them from start to finish. When they made runs, we would counter with runs of our own, which is something we hadn't done all season against them." Western Nebraska decided to break a 5-5 tie with a small run to give themselves a five point lead before Radke ended the run with a tip kill. Hollerbach cut the lead to three on a kill and Radke added another kill to make the deficit 13-12.

Unfortunately from there, it was all Cougars ending the contest with a 17-5 run to take Game 1 comfortably. That would be all the comfort the opponent would get, because NJC stepped it up in the following two games. NJC forced 10 ties, with the last one coming at 28 apiece. The Plainswomen actually had a lead as late as 26-25 on a kill by Thais. The lead for Northeastern hit two points twice, once on an ace by Radke to make the score 21-19 and again at 25-23 on a kill by T. Leipelt. Coach Henry would call a time out with her team down 28-26 to talk things over. A kill by freshman Ashley Dickerson and another by Radke tied the game, but WNCC would win Game 2 on two attack errors by NJC. "Game two showed that we could play against them and we had hoped going into the third game that it would help us get over the hump and win a game," Henry said.

Beginning the final game the momentum didn't seem to be working, as Northeastern trailed by as much as five early. A block by Alexis Eliades cut the lead to two points and another block, this time by sophomore Brittany Larson cut the lead to one before a tip by Radke tied the game at 14. NJC would have to call a time out after allowing the Lady Cougars to go off for four straight points to give them added cushion. Northeastern would cut the lead to two on three other occasions, but WNCC finished the match on an 8-2 run to win the match.

Now all eyes are set on next year, with much needed freshman to step up by filling in open positions. Northeastern will lose three outside hitters and two setters due to graduation. If everything stays the same, seven freshman will return next season.

"We remain excited for our future," Henry said. "Alexis came in and played a lot in different roles and brings in experience. Suyan really grew defensively, we will need her aggressive serving next year. Kristin Gardiner provided a big spark offensively when we needed it and should fit in perfectly with what we are trying to do." Other freshman include: Ashley Dickerson, Caroline Ratterree, Hilary Mekelburg and Dayna Jenkins.