SCOTTSBLUFF – The Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) Lady Lancers pulled out all the stops in a neck-and-neck match against the Western Nebraska Community College (WNCC) Lady Cougars in Scottsbluff on Tuesday, August 27.

While the scoreboard ultimately favored WNCC, 3-1, EWC battled WNCC through four sets where the lead frequently changed hands and the results came down to the wire.

WNCC won the first two sets, 25-23 and 25-21. Digging deep in the third set, EWC turned the tables to triumph, 25-20. 

WNCC pulled ahead midway into the fourth set. Despite a concerted effort by the Lady Lancers to close the deficit, EWC came up short and WNCC won, 25-20.

Down to the wire

The beginning of the first set established the tone for the remainder of the match as the lead bounced back and forth across the court.

EWC controlled the scoreboard early in the opening set with kills by sophomore Siala Unufe, freshman Una Stepic, sophomore Julia Dolan and freshman Amarie Huntsman.

WNCC tied the set at seven points before edging up, 8-7. Huntsman responded with a point to tie the game at eight points. 

WNCC retook the initiative, 9-8, before a service error resulted in another stalemate at nine points.

The Lady Cougars scored next and found themselves up, 11-9. A pair of kills by Dolan pulled EWC ahead, 12-11.

Unufe aced a serve and freshman Mina Milivojevic reached up for a block, widening EWC’s lead, 16-12. The Lady Lancers remained ahead with kills from Stepic and freshman Annika Cantrell.

WNCC battled back to tie the game at 18. Huntsman slammed over a pair of kills and sophomore Emma Blackstar served up an ace and the scoreboard tipped in EWC’s favor, 21-18.

The set reached a deadlock at 21 points. Service errors by the Lady Cougars placed EWC up at 22 and 23 points, respectively, before WNCC scored two decisive points to win the set, 25-23.

The second set opened with EWC taking an early lead, 6-5, following two points by Stepic before WNCC overtook the Lady Lancers at seven points.

WNCC managed to stay ahead through game point, 25-21, though EWC kept on the Lady Cougar’s heels by nearly closing the gap on several occasions.

The Lady Lancers battled back in the third set. Following a back-and-forth battle early in the set, WNCC found itself up, 14-11.

EWC fought back with kills by Dolan and Stepic and an ace by Unufe. WNCC served out of bounds and the game was tied at 14.

A block by Milivojevic pushed the Lady Lancers ahead, 15-14. 

The set deadlocked again at 19. Unufe responded with a pair of kills and EWC found itself up, 21-20. Huntsman slammed over a point and Unufe scored another kill. Blackstar aced a serve and a kill by Huntsman resulted in game point, 25-20.

In the fourth set, WNCC took control of the scoreboard at eight points. While EWC came within one or two points of closing the deficit on several occasions, WNCC maintained the lead through game point, 25-20.

Huntsman led the Lady Lancers on offense against WNCC, tallying 14 kills over four sets. Stepic posted 11 kills while Unufe contributed 10.

Sophomore libero Boden Liljedahl provided solid coverage on the court and collected 16 digs.

Blackstar played setter for most of the game and totaled 24 assists. Blackstar also served up three aces.

Up next, the Lady Lancers travel to Salt Lake City for the annual Crystal Invite from August 30-31. The action kicks off with EWC playing Salt Lake Community College and North Idaho College on Friday. On Saturday, the Lady Lady Lancers play Utah State Eastern and the College of Southern Idaho.

EWC travels to the SOCO Classic in Colorado from September 6-7.