Volleyball Sweeps on Day One of Hastings Classic
Hastings, NE - The Hastings College volleyball team picked up two sweeps on Friday defeating Oklahoma Panhandle State 25-17, 25-23, 25-20 before defeating Haskell 25-10, 25-18, 25-21 inside Lynn Farrell Arena.
HC found itself trailing 8-5 in set one but made sure that lead was short lived. Miriam Miller (FR/Lincoln, NE) started the run with a kill. Makenna Asher (SO/Hastings, NE) would catch fire scoring three of the next four kills with a Sydney Mullin (SR/North Platte, NE) kill pushing the lead to 10-8 forcing an Aggie timeout. Out of the time out, Miller picked up another kill and a bad set from Lesly Galarza made it 12-8 before OPSU stopped the bleeding.
The Aggies would keep set one close with a quick 3-0 run cutting the Lady Bronco lead to just three at 19-16. But Hastings had a big answer scoring the six of the final seven points of the set to take a 1-0 lead. Jaisee Stinson (JR/Omaha, NE) stopped the run with a kill and then kills from Miller and Asher increased the lead to 22-16. After Hastings pushed it to set point, Miller finished things off with a kill for the 25-17 set one win.
Set two was tight from start to finish as the Aggies looked poised to steal one from Hastings opening up a 19-16 lead. Hastings came roaring back starting with a kill from Mullin. Miller made it a one point set with a service ace and then a bad set from OPSU's Celenia De Leon tied it at 19. Then Grace Branson (FR/Lawrence, KS) and Mullin teamed up for a block to give HC the lead at 20-19.
Hastings was looking at set point following a Branson kill at 24-22 but a kill from Essense West delayed the two sets to none lead. But, Asher would send a perfect back set to Branson which the Aggies couldn't handle to take set two 25-23.
Hastings looked to be in control of set three leading 15-10 but OPSU went on a 6-1 run to take a 16-15 lead. HC would answer right back following a service error and then another Branson kill to regain the lead. Ava Lovitt (FR/Beatrice, NE) picked up a service ace and another Branson kill made it 19-16.
OPSU got it back to 20-19 but two Aggie errors coupled with a kill from Asher put Hastings back in control and Mullin finished the match off with a kill.
Mullin started the match going a perfect 11-for-11 on kills before finishing the game with 12 kills while hitting .667. Asher added nine kills while leading the team with 22 assists. Branson finished with seven kills hitting .462 while Emily Krolikowski (SR/Cairo, NE) and Miller each finished with six kills.
Hastings hit .269 for the match while OPSU finished at .212.
The Lady Broncos would be able to go deeper into its bench against Haskell Indian Nations after winning set one 25-10. Many players saw playing time for the first time in the careers as Lauren Dirks (FR/Lincoln, NE) came off the bench to record seven assits. Dacey Sealey (FR/Hastings, NE) had three kills in her debut. Jaydin Schake (JR/Amherst, NE) who missed last season came off the bench picking up five kills while hitting .417. Majesta Valasek (SO/Broken Bow, NE) missed last year due to injury where she picked up a couple of kills.
Krolikowski led the team with 11 kills hitting .421 while Mullin finished with 10 kills while hitting .389. Asher added six kills while hitting .500 while Branson and Amani Monroe (SR/Colorado Springs, CO) each finished with four kills. Kamri Adler (JR/Hastings, NE) lead the team with 15 digs while Miller finished with 12.
Hastings out hit the Indians .237 to -.031 while picking up 46 kills to just 15 for Haskell.
Hastings improves to 6-0 on the year and will be back in action Saturday taking on Mayville State at 11 a.m. and then Kansas Wesleyan at 3:00 p.m. inside Lynn Farrell Arena to finish up the Hastings College Classic.
