Chanute, KS—Entering the Panther Invitational looking to snap a five-game losing streak, the Marshalltown Community College volleyball team recorded two victories to halt the skid. The Tigers rallied to defeat host Neosho County Community College 3-2 and beat Allen County Community College in straight sets.
Having lost their five previous matches, including three in the state of Kansas, the Tigers opened up the two-day event with a first-set victory over the Panthers in an exhilarating 26-24 win. The second set proved to be no different as both teams traded points throughout the match. The Tigers built a 17-15 lead before Neosho rallied to edge MCC 25-23. Trailing by as many as five points in the third set, MCC rallied to bring the game within one, but Neosho prevailed with a 25-22 victory.
The marathon continued in the fourth as neither team led by more than one point for most of the match. Tied at 18, the Tigers rattled off three straight points to pull away and take a 25-21 victory to force a fifth-set tiebreaker.
MCC struck early in the final set and Mady Van Metre (Marshalltown, IA/Ames) came up with a kill to give MCC a 10-7 lead. The Tigers held off a late push from Neosho to take the set 15-12 and win the match.
Van Metre finished the match with 10 kills. Kayla Prosser (Eldora, IA/South Hardin) posted 15 kills, 18 digs, and four service aces, all team highs. Reeba Box (Liscomb, IA/BCLUW) and Meghann Cole (Des Moines, IA/West Des Moines Valley) joined Van Metre and Prosser in the double-digit kill column with 14 and 13, respectively.
The Tigers continued to roll in the nightcap against Allen County. Taking on the Red Devils for the second time this season, MCC cruised to three straight victories, 25-17, 25-19, and 25-15. The Tigers defeated Allen County 3-1 on Sept. 13 at the Tiger Invitational.
Prosser paced the Tigers once again with a team-best 14 kills. Van Metre tallied 13 and Box finished with 11. Sam Hinrichs (Ankeny, IA/Ankeny) dished out 42 assists to give her a total of 93 on the day after recording a career-best 51 against Neosho.
The Tigers return to action at the Panther Invitational tomorrow with two games against Coffeyville Community College at 10:00 AM and Fort Scott Community College at 2:00 PM.
