SCOTTSBLUFF, NE – The #20 Laramie County Community College volleyball team was in search of a perfect weekend at the WyoBraska Invitational on Saturday afternoon when they faced Missouri State University – West Plains but came up just short against the Grizzlies in a four-set loss 25-18, 15-25, 25-20, 25-23.
The opening set was neck and neck through the first 20 points with both sides even at ten all. That was when the Grizzlies were able to begin taking control and pushed a lead to 13-10 and 17-13 to counter runs from the Golden Eagles. The lead remained in that range until 20-16 when MSU West Plains finished on a 5-2 run to take the opening set 25-18.
"We didn't come out with the good strong energy that we normally do to start matches," Head Coach Zach Shaver said. "That led to a lack of execution in set one and we asked them to change that in set two and they did."
The message between sets set a tone for LCCC in the second as they came out strong to force an early timeout by the Grizzlies at 5-1. The timeout did little to slow down the Golden Eagles who pushed the lead to nine at 13-4 midway through. The lead reached double digits at 15-5 and LCCC held them at arm's length the rest of the way to a 25-15 win to even the match at 1-1.
Both sides seemed to settle in during the third set and after getting an early edge LCCC was able to hold off from any lead changes despite ties at 10, 12, 13, and 16. That changed when MSU West Plains took their first lead on the next point and were able to take control of the third down the stretch to gain the advantage with a 25-20 win.
It was another strong start for LCCC in the fourth with a very similar feel to the second set, forcing another early Grizzly timeout with a 6-1 lead. The offensive aggression continued after the break with a 5-1 run to blow open the set and take an 11-2 lead.
MSU-West Plains responded to the deficit in an aggressive manner and fought their way back, winning eleven of the next 14 points to draw within one at 14-13 and force LCCC to take the timeout to recompose. It seemed the timeout worked when the Golden Eagles went up 16-13, but not for long. The Grizzlies took the next four points to pick up their first lead of the set at 17-16 and forced Shaver to call his final timeout of the set.
The Grizzlies grew their lead to as much as five in the final set and closed it by outscoring the Golden Eagles 23-12 as they held on for a 25-23 win to take the match 3-1.
"It was a mix of everything. There were mental errors that led to physical errors," Shaver said, adding the team is in a new position that LCCC hasn't been in for some time. "I think we are a little afraid of the situation right now. We are in a good spot with a good record, and being ranked and we are letting the fear of losing that sometimes dictate how we play, and we need to get over that hurdle."
He added that when the team played relaxed at the end of the fourth set they returned to their usual form.
"Once you are down 24-20 nobody thinks you are going to win including ourselves so then we just played loose and aggressive and it worked so we just have to keep doing that consistently."
Addyson McArthur was a leader for the team both offensively and defensively with a 15 kill, 18 dig double double. Demi Stauffenberg added 10 kills and 12 digs.
Kate Ohlsen had another 31 assists, giving her a 30-assist match for the eighth time this season and giving her 520 on the year which is 11th in the country.
Other notable stats include a four-ace match from Fanke Zomer and a five-block match from Elysiana Fonseca who now has 66 on the season to lead the team and has her 12th in the nation.
The Golden Eagles now head into Region IX North play on Tuesday when they return to Storey Gymnasium for their third home match of the year against Eastern Wyoming College.
Opening serve is scheduled for 7:00 pm. Tickets are available online at www.golccc.com.