WC drops nationals opener in four sets

Weatherford College fell to Utah State University Eastern in four sets in the first round of the NJCAA Division I National Volleyball Tournament in Clarksville, Tennessee, on Wednesday. 

WC (29-8) will face Eastern Wyoming College in a consolation bracket match Thursday afternoon. 

USUE (24-6), the number eight seed in the tournament, took advantage of their superior size and skilled outside hitters against the nine-seeded Coyotes. 

"They did exactly what we thought they would do," said Kailee May, WC head coach. "The hitters that we thought would be tough to stop were tough to stop, and they blocked a lot of balls." 

USUE had 11 team blocks compared to WC's five and led the block assists category 16-8. Two Polish players led the Eagles: Agata Zwierzynska had 13 kills, a .500 hitting percentage and four block assists while Emilia Zug added 12 kills.  

"For us, our youth really showed," May said. "We only have two starting sophomores, that's it. So, we have six freshmen on the court for 50 percent of the match, and I think that showed.  

"Hopefully, next year, when we're in this same position, the freshmen that are coming back have some good experience under their belts." 

USUE jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the first set, but the Coyotes made a run and took a 13-11 lead. A call in the Coyotes' favor was reversed after video review, ending WC's run. The Eagles finished off the set 25-20. 

Weatherford never led in the second set, trailing by as many as nine points. The Coyotes made a mid-set run and held off USUE for four possessions after the Eagles reached set point, but USUE won 25-19. 

The Coyotes had a different energy in the third set, jumping out to a 4-0 lead. Weatherford never trailed, logging 20 kills to USUE's 8, winning 25-17. 

The fourth and final set was back and forth, with eight ties and three lead changes. WC had more kills in the set (13-12) but eventually lost the set 25-22 and the match three sets to one. 

Gabby Maldonado had a strong match for the Coyotes, turning in 14 kills. Abby Morris and Abby Hellman had 10 kills each. 

Victoria Sanchez logged 24 assists. Kiana Souza had 21 digs. 

The Coyotes' match with Eastern Wyoming begins at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 21, in the Dunn Center on the campus of Austin Peay State University. EWC (26-10) is the 16 seed and was swept by Florida Southwestern State College, the top seed, Wednesday. The match will be livestreamed on the NJCAA Network.