Women's Volleyball | 8/23/2024 11:14:00 PM

Box Score The Cloud County Community College volleyball team challenged each set in its season opener Friday, August 23, but Ranger College managed to inch past the T-Birds in a highly contested four-set battle (25-23, 19-25, 21-25, 25-27) at the Dallas College Eastfield Invitational in Mesquite, Texas.

The battle started with a tightly-contested, back-and-forth opening set. The T-Birds trailed Ranger College 9-5 early, but fought back to lead by as many as four points on two separate occasions (19-15, 23-19). Cloud County managed to fend off a late-charge to claim a 25-23 first set victory.

The opening set proved to be the high water mark for the night as Cloud County could never replicate the results of that first game.

The T-Birds dug themselves an early hole in set two, falling behind 7-0 to start. Ranger College later built its lead out to as many as nine points. Cloud County, however, showed a bit of early-season grit, clawing their way back to within three points at 17-14. Still, the Lady Rangers never relinquished their lead and were able to score a 25-19 win.

Cloud County displayed more fire and energy on both sides of the net in the third set, racing out to a quick 9-4 lead. Undeterred, Ranger College hung tough, hitting back to tie the match at 14. Once again, the two clubs found themselves locked in a seesaw affair before Ranger College pulled away late for a 25-21 win.

The fourth and final set was a thriller from the start. Both teams found ways to withstand runs, and the counterplay was never higher. With the game tied at 24, freshman Tori Sanders and sophomore transfer Tara Rajkovic recorded a tandem block that put the T-Birds ahead 25-24. But a service error on Cloud County resulted in another tie at 25-all. Ranger College was then able to close out the set, winning 27-25.

Cloud County was led on the night by sophomore Bradie Medina. Medina, an honorable mention All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference West Division selection in 2023, tallied a team-high 17 kills, hit .300 and also added 20 digs to her stat line.

Sophomore Ashley Suter was a key cog in both the offense and defense for the T-Birds, posting a team-leading 22 digs and 28 assists.

Rajkovic, who played last season for Monroe College in New Rochelle, New York, posted five kills, eight digs and two block assists in her T-Bird debut.

Up next, Cloud County will close out play in the Dallas College Eastfield Invitational by taking on Independence Community College at 12 pm on Saturday, August 24, followed by a 2 pm showdown Saturday with tournament hosts, Dallas College Eastfield. The Independence Pirates, under new head coach Alex Lehocky, fell in their season opener in three-sets to Ranger College on Friday. Meanwhile, the Dallas College Eastfield Harvester Bees are ranked No. 1 in the 2024 NJCAA Division III preseason poll. The defending national champions posted a 35-0 record in 2023, registering 29 sweeps on the season. Dallas College Eastfield is out to a 2-0 start to begin their 2024 campaign, with sweeps over Ranger College and North Lake College.