Mason City, IA—Trailing two sets to none, the Marshalltown Community College volleyball team rallied for three straight victories against North Iowa Area Community College on Sunday afternoon, giving the Tigers their first victory of 2015. MCC dropped its opening match of the day to Grand View JV 3-1.
After winning the first set 25-21 to start the day against Grand View JV, the Tigers dropped the next three sets 25-20, 26-24, and 25-21 to suffer its 10th loss of the season. Freshmen Nicole Montgomery (Beaman, IA/BCLUW) and Jordan Carter (Sigourney, IA/Sigourney) led the Tigers with 13 and 12 kills, respectively. Raini Hilmer (Dysart, IA/Union) recorded 25 assists to go with a team-best 14 digs. Paola Toledo (Boca Chica, Dominican Republic/San Rafael) posted four service aces in the loss.
MCC fell behind early against NIACC (8-8) in the team's second match of the day as the Trojans took the first set 25-16 and set two 25-20. The Tigers battled back on the road, taking a hard-fought third set 26-24. Set four proved to be another tight contest as both sides were tied at 12. MCC finally broke free of the Trojans, scoring five of the game's final six points to even the match at two.
The Tigers maintained an early lead in the decisive fifth set, but NIACC held its ground and pulled within one, 9-8. MCC led 11-10, but grinded out the closing points, scoring four of the final six points to secure its first win of the season.
Carter upped her performance in the second match of the day, tying a personal-best with 19 kills after hitting a personal best .300 in the win. The freshman also tallied a season-high seven service aces. Montgomery joined Carter in double-figure kills again with 12. Rieley Rodman (Ankeny, IA/Grand View Christian) served up three aces while Hilmer distributed the ball for 43 assists.
The Tigers return home for a matchup with Wartburg JV on Sept. 24 at 7:30 PM.
