PRATT, Kansas — A roller coaster of a first set foreshadowed what would be a tough evening for the Cloud County Community College volleyball team Wednesday night in its Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference opener against Pratt Community College.

The hometown Beavers put together a 16-2 run in the first set, erasing a 9-2 lead for the T-Birds at the time, and Cloud County was unable to recapture its early momentum as it fell to Pratt in straight sets: 25-22, 25-19 and 25-18.

Cloud County dropped to 2-4 overall on the young season and to 0-1 in KJCCC action, while Pratt improved to 1-4 overall, 1-0 KJCCC.

"Pratt out-worked our girls and wanted that match very bad," said Cloud County head coach, Molly Skocny. "You could see it in how they (Beavers) fought for each ball. We are playing on the defensive too much and not relying on what will win for us. We are too passive, offensively."

Following the 16-2 run by the Beavers, which pushed their lead to 18-11, Cloud County nearly completed a comeback of its own. The T-Birds inched back within two points at 20-18 on an ace from freshman defensive specialist Britt Michaelis, and climbed within a point as late as 23-22. But Cloud had its rally extinguished after back-to-back attack errors sealed the 25-22 win for Pratt.

In Set Two, the two teams traded points much of the set until Pratt closed on a 10-5 run to earn a 25-19 win and take a 2-0 advantage in the match.

Set Three followed the same script as the two KJCCC foes battled back and forth. Cloud County was within two points at 16-14 following a block by sophomores Christen Greving and Elizabeth Nobert.

Unfortunately for the T-Birds, that was as close as they would get to retaking the lead in the third set as Pratt countered with a 9-4 blitz to take Set Three, 25-18, and complete the sweep.

Nobert and freshman hitter Giovanna Fundaro led all Cloud players with six kills apiece. Setters Kamryn Stark and Cammie Miller finished with 12 assists and eight assists, respectively.

Defensively, Michaelis tallied a team-high 10 digs and also led the T-Birds with three service aces.

"I'm really hoping we will have a few individuals rise to the occasion and take some ownership over this team," Skocny said. "Our team has all of the necessary components to be successful and the best thing we have going for us is that (Wednesday), technically, we are still in August."

Cloud County will look to bounce back this Friday when it returns home to host Hutchinson Community College. Action begins at 6:30 p.m. inside Arley Bryant Gymnasium.