HIGHLAND, Kan. – Taking part in their only match of the week, the number 14-ranked Cloud County Community College volleyball team would be unable to overcome a slow start as part of a 3-0 loss to number four-ranked Highland Community College at the Ben Allen Field House in Highland, Kansas on Wednesday, September 18th.

Falling for just the second time this season, the T-Birds are now 12-2 overall and 1-2 in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference while the Scotties improved to 13-3 and 2-2 in the KJCCC.

A quick start by Highland would put CCCC in a hole that they never would be able to recover from in the first set as the Scotties would take the first set by a score of 25-12 by taking advantage of unforced T-Bird errors. With the offense struggling in the first set, Cloud County would look to mix things up in the second set by working the ball to sophomore Dayana Chara to spark a rally. Despite the efforts, it would not be enough as HCC would come away with a 25-15 set victory to go up 2-0 in the match.

Needing a win to stay alive, Cloud County would battle back from an early deficit to take a slim lead midway through the set before seeing the Scotties storm back to reclaim the lead heading into the final stretch of the set. A last push effort by the T-Birds would close the score to within one at 24-23, but a match-ending kill for the Scotties would end things with a 25-23 set victory.

Just four players for CCCC would be able to record any offensive statistics in the match with Emelys Martinez leading the T-Birds with 13 kills. Chara would finish the match with 10 kills to go along with 10 digs while Mary Broxterman would record two solo blocks and three assisted blocks. Riley Bontrager provided 27 set assists in the match while Willow Hunt would lead the T-Birds with 13 digs.

What's Next?

Cloud County returns home to host number three nationally-ranked Johnson County Community College in a KJCCC matchup at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 25th. The Cavaliers are 11-2 overall and are scheduled to play a match against Hesston College prior to taking on the T-Birds next week.