Lady Coyotes ninth in national tourney

The Weatherford College Lady Coyotes, after dropping their opening match in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I Volleyball Championships, rebounded with four straight victories.

In their final match of the season, on Saturday, Nov. 23, Weatherford College (32-8) defeated Odessa College in come-from-behind fashion, 3-2. After dropping the first two sets 27-25 and 25-21, they won the next two 25-21 and 25-17, before winning the thrilling fifth set 15-13.

In the tournament opener on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at Austin Peay University in Clarksville, Tennessee, WC stumbled with a 3-1 loss to Utah State Eastern College. They followed with back-to-back three-set sweeps of Eastern Wyoming College on Nov. 21 and Trinity Valley Community College, from Athens, Texas on Nov. 22.

This is Weatherford's second consecutive season to advance to the NJCAA Division I Championships. WC has only had a volleyball program three years.

NJCAA Division I Volleyball Championships

Nov. 20-23 at Austin Peay University in Clarksville, Tennessee

Weatherford College results

First round

WC 3, Utah State Eastern 1

Weatherford College 20  19  25  22

Utah State Eastern 25  25  17  25

WC leaders

Kills: Gabriella Maldonado 14, Abigail Morris 10, Abby Hellman 10.

Blocks: Presleigh Roest 4, Hellman 3.

Aces: Victoria Sanchez 2.

Digs: Kiana Souza 21, Weronika Urbanska 9, Sanchez 8.

Assists: Sanchez 24, Lorena Gomez 18.

Second round

WC 3, Eastern Wyoming 0

Weatherford College 25  28  25

Eastern Wyoming 23  26  18

Kills: Hellman 9, Roest 8, Morris 7.

Blocks: Harmony Soles 7, Maldonado 5, Roest 4.

Aces: Roest 2.

Digs: Souza 16, Urbanska 11, Morris 10.

Assists: Gomez 19, Sanchez 13.

Third round

WC 3, Trinity Valley 0

Trinity Valley CC 21  23  17

Weatherford College 25  25  25

Kills: Urbanska 16, Hellman 11, Maldonado 9.

Blocks: Roest 3.

Digs: Morris 14, Souza 13, Gomez 7.

Assists: Gomez 25, Sanchez 15.

Ninth-place match

WC 3, Odessa College 2

Weatherford College 25  21  25  25  15

Odessa College 27  25  21  17  13

Kills: Maldonado 15, Roest 13, Urbanksa 9, Morris 8.

Blocks: Roest 10, Maldonado 10, Soles 7, Amelie Shalfoon 4.

Aces: Souza 3, Urbanska 2.

Digs: Souza 40, Urbanska 16, Sanches 11.

Assists: Sanchez 26, Gomez 23.