HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team earned a hard-fought five-set win over Monroe College 21-25, 25-16, 19-25, 25-22, 15-7 to advance to a Friday afternoon match against Panola College in the consolation  bracket of the NJCAA National Tournament.

              The Cougars moved to 33-7 on the season.

              WNCC had three players finish with d9uble figure kills in the match. Sarena Bartley and Brooke Kaawa each had 14 kills while Syenna Masaki finished with 12 kills.

              The difference in the match was hitting. WNCC hit ..224 while Monroe was just .132. The Monroe Mustangs hit -.063 in the fifth set.

              WNCC had three players finish with a double-double. Kaawa had 14 kills with 17 digs. She also had eight points and three assist blocks. Masaki had a near triple-double. The freshman from Hawaii had 12 kills with 13 set assists, nine digs, two solo blocks, and five points. Genesis Benitez tallied 10 points and 22 digs.

              Also for the Cougars, Jayme Commins tallied 35 set assists with eight points; Kirstee Trees had 11 points and seven digs; Lauren Shaul had two digs; Joise Maldonado had five kills' Kaile Tuisamatatele with five digs; and Kadara Marshall had four kills, five digs, five points.