Knights fall in doubleheader to conclude McCook Invitational

McCook, Neb. – The North Platte Community College volleyball team wrapped up the McCook Invitational with back-to-back losses on Saturday, falling to Butler in straight sets (21-25, 15-25, 20-25) and dropping a five-set thriller to Hutchinson (25-20, 25-15, 22-25, 17-25, 12-15).

"We didn't play our best volleyball in game one," said head coach Alexa McCall. "But I thought we bounced back and competed against a good Hutch team." 

Freshman Makenna Stephenson led the Knights offensively with 24 kills, while fellow freshman Khloee Wright added 17 kills on the day. Zoe Maher paced the defense with 33 digs, as Kiley Kearney recorded 48 assists.

Butler 3 North Platte 0

In their opening match, North Platte and Butler traded points early until a five-point Grizzly run created a four-point Butler lead. A solo block by Nya Lual brought the Knights back within two, but Butler responded with a late push to close out the set.

The Grizzlies stretched their momentum into the second set, opening a 5-1 lead. Back-to-back kills from Lual and Wright, followed by an attacking error trimmed the margin to one. Butler regrouped and retook control to take a two-set lead.

In the final set, the Knights rallied from an early deficit to pull back within two on a kill by Kearney. Butler fought off the attack and rallied to stretch their lead to 14-7, but the Knights would not go down without a fight. A late surge featuring a block from Ella Rotherham and a kill by Stephenson pulled the Knights close, but it wasn't enough to capture the set.

Hutchinson 3 North Platte 2

In game two, North Platte rolled early in set one as an ace from Kearney built a 9-5 lead. Hutchinson clawed back within one, but the Knights never relinquished their lead down the stretch before earning the set win on an attacking error by the Blue Dragons.

Strong defense kept rolling in the second set as North Platte raced out to a 10-4 lead. Hutchinson rallied midway through the set to cut the margin to three, but the Knights countered and left the Blue Dragons in the dust with a 25-15 set win.

Hutchinson flipped the momentum in set three and four, capitalizing on early runs and making the most of some timely rallies to force a decisive set five.

Knights and Blue Dragons battled back-and-forth in the final set. Even at 9-9, Hutchinson pulled away using a 5-1 rally to earn match point. North Platte continued to fight off match point three times but ultimately could not put together the run needed to extend the match.

North Platte (1-6) will hit the road for the Cheyenne Invitational next Thursday. North Platte kicks off with the Mustangs of Western Wyoming at 6 p.m.