Story by NPCC Athletic Communications
Columbus, Neb. – North Platte Community College volleyball fell to Central Community College in straight sets to close out Region IX regular season play on Thursday night.
In the loss, the Knights solidify the second seed in the Region IX postseason tournament and will host the opening round on Oct. 30.
Raiders used a 3-0 run to pull away in the opening moments of the first set. Central continued to hold the momentum as they stretched the margin to 20-11. A kill by Ella Rotherham helped North Platte cut into the deficit, but three straight points anchored by back-to-back aces secured the set for the Raiders.
North Platte took an early 5-2 lead on a kill by Nya Lual. Central fought back to knot the set up at five before taking the lead on an attacking error by the Knights. The margin remained close until a 6-0 run pushed the Raiders out to a 19-12 advantage. North Platte rallied to cut the margin to 24-21, but Central scored their final point to take a two-set lead.
North Platte kept the game tight early, before a 3-0 run propelled the black and gold out to an 11-8 lead. The game remained close as the lead changed hands three more times in the closing stages of the set. Trailing 19-18, North Platte turned to Zoe Maher who bested the defense three straight times to give the Knights a two-point advantage. Raiders responded with a 4-0 run, before eventually closing the set out on a kill by Lauryn Scott.
Maher led the way with 12 kills on 36 swings and two digs, while Jaelyn Dicke added 22 digs, 10 kills and one ace.
North Platte (11-22) will hit the road for their final road game of the season on Saturday. Serve against Lamar Community College is set for 3 p.m. in Lamar, Colo.