Story by NPCC Athletic Communications
McCook, Neb. – North Platte Community College volleyball fell to rival McCook Community College in straight sets at the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center on Tuesday night.
Jaelyn Dicke led the way with nine kills on 41 swigs and 10 digs, while Kylie Rose tallied eight digs and three aces in the match.
North Platte matched the Indians early by knotting the game up three times in the opening moments of the first set. A Romina Martinez kill ignited the McCook offense as the deficit grew to ten. North Platte fired back behind three aces from Rose to pull back within five, but McCook extinguished the rally to take a one set advantage.
McCook surged out to a 10-4 lead in the second set, which led to a North Platte timeout. A brief 2-0 spurt halted the momentum, but McCook responded to stretch their lead to nine midway through the set. North Platte slowly erased the margin, before an attacking error narrowed the deficit to three. McCook held the Knights at bay as they took the 25-19 set win.
The third set featured 12 ties as the Knights were determined to take a set from the Indians. McCook would build a three-point lead, but North Platte evened the match at 22-22 on an attacking error. The margin remained tight until a kill by Caylin Barnett and a block by Ella Verts closed out the match.
Knights (5-16) will return to the road as they travel to Norfolk for the Northeast Community College triangular. First serve is set for 4 p.m. against North Iowa Area Community College.