Columbus, NE—A pair of losses at the Central Nebraska Invitational on Saturday kept the Marshalltown Community College women's volleyball team winless in the two-day event, dropping all four matches over the weekend. The Tigers (3-6) fell to McCook Community College 3-2 in the first game on Saturday, and dropped the closing match 3-0 to host Central Community College.
Sophomore libero Ashley Salgado (Ottumwa, IA/Ottumwa), hampered by an ankle injury sustained on Friday, collected 123 total digs on Saturday, giving her a total of 201 in the four-match invite. Salgado now has 472 digs on the year for an average of 13.48 digs per set, still topping the NJCAA Division II leaderboard.
The Tigers dropped their first two sets against McCook 25-17 and 28-26 before rallying back to take the next two, 25-22 and 25-20. MCC had its chances to close out the Indians in the deciding fifth set before falling 17-15.
Salgado finished with a career-high 78 digs against McCook while fellow sophomore Alyssa Whitmore (Legrand, IA/East Marshall) also recorded a career-high with 44 digs. Sam Hinrichs (Ankeny, IA/Ankeny) stuffed the stat sheet for the Tigers, collecting five blocks and adding 36 assists. Miranda Smith (Albion, IA/Marshalltown) and Katelyn Yauslin (Cedar Rapids, IA/Alburnett) paced the Tigers offensively, each registering 12 kills. Smith also blocked five shots at the net.
Central CC, ranked No. 5 in the latest NJCAA Division II poll, swept the Tigers in straight sets 25-16, 25-23, and 25-19. The Raiders won all four matches at the invite and have now won seven straight.
Salgado and Whitmore teamed up once again on the defensive front, combining for 67 digs against Central. Yauslin, the offensive leader throughout the weekend, totaled six kills while Amanda Keane (Morinville, Alberta/Morinville Community) added five.
The Tigers open up Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) play on the road on Wednesday as MCC travels to Iowa Lakes. Following the conference showdown, the Tigers will host the Tiger Invite Sept. 13-14 at the Student Activity Center.
