Volleyball Begins 2021 Campaign 8-0 with Sweeps of MSU and KWU
Hastings, NE - The Hastings College volleyball team finshed up the Hastings College Classic with two more wins over Mayville State (25-11, 25-22, 25-23) and Kansas Wesleyan (25-20, 25-16, 25-19) inside Lynn Farrell Arena.
In its first contest, Hastings was facing off againt Mayville State, a team that beat the Lady Broncos a year ago in five sets so HC may have had a bit of a chip on its shoulder coming into 2021.
That chip reared its head from the get go with Hastings jumping out to a quick 5-0 lead. It all started with a double block from Amani Monroe (SR/Colorado Springs, CO) and Grace Branson (FR/Lawrence, KS) followed by a kill from Emily Krolikowski (SR/Cairo, NE). Then Makenna Asher (SO/Hastings, NE) hooked up with Monroe for the kill from the quick set as HC was already up 3-0. A kill from Branson and an attack error from MSU's Ashley Pyburn put HC up 5-0.
That lead of five held up until Hastings would go on a 7-0 run to open up a 22-10 lead. That run was sparked by kils from Miriam Miller (FR/Lincoln, NE) and Sydney Mullin (SR/North Platte, NE) plus a block from Miller and Mulling and a service ace from Ireland Currey (SR/Lincoln, NE).
After asserting its dominance in set one, Hastings saw the Comets dig in and make the Lady Broncos earn the final two set victories.
The second set went back-and-forth and after a kill from MSU's Lily Pyle, the Comets clung to a 22-21 lead. Asher then went to Mullin for the kill to knot things up. An attack error from Pyle gave HC the lead at 23-22 forcing a MSU timeout. Coming out of the timeout, Hastings left no doubt as Mullin set up set point with a kill and and an attack error from Pyburn gave the set to Hastings 25-22.
Set three nearly mirrored set two as both teams were not letting this one get more than a few points from one another. After the Comets picked up a Pyburn kill to make it 22-21, Hastings countered with a Miller kill followed by an attack error from MSU's Natalie Hadrava bringing up match point. MSU would not go quietly picking up a kill from Pyle and an attack error from HC making it a 24-23 match. Jaisee Stinson (JR/Omaha, NE) decided to go to the hot hand and Miller finished the match off with a kill to end the match winning set three 25-23.
Mullin led the way with a match high 11 kiills while hitting .333. Miller finished with nine kills while hitting .286 and Monroe was tough to stop in the middle with nine kills while hitting .400. Asher added six kills to go along with 21 assists while Stinson added 18 assists.
Hastings hit .244 while holding the Comets to .094.
In game two of the day, Hastings took on (RV) Kansas Wesleyan and even without the high powered arm of Emily Krolikowski, Hastings had little trouble with the Coyotes.
Things didn't get off to the best start especially when KWU rattled off six straight points to take an early 8-3 lead.
HC wouldn't panic though and once down 12-7, Hastings would out score KWU 13-4 to take control of the set. During that run, HC would get kills from Asher, Monroe, Dacey Sealey (FR/Hastings, NE) and yes even Currey picked up a kill. Hastings was also aided by multiple attack errors by the Coyotes en route to the 25-20 set one win.
After taking the second set handily at 25-16, Hastings was looking to finish the Hastings College Classic unscathed.
MSU would keep things close and HC led 19-17 followinga Maddy Beckett kill. But a kill from Branson, an error from the Comets and a kill from Monroe gave Hastings a 22-17 lead. Eventually Hastings would get it to match point where Asher finished the match off with a kill.
Miller had a career game with her career high 12 kills and career high .423 hitting percentage while collecting a team high 17 digs. Monroe also had a huge game with nine kills while hitting .643. Mullin added eight kills and four total blocks.
Hastings hit .224 while holding MSU to .099. Stinson led the team with 22 assists.
Hastings improves to 8-0 on the year and will be back in action Wednesday Sept. 1 as Doane comes to town to open up Great Plains Atheltic Conference play with first serve set for 7:30 p.m. inside Lynn Farrell Arena.
