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Reivers wreck MCC’s upset bid in 3

Conference opener goes to Iowa Western

T-R PHOTO BY ANDREW ABADIE - Marshalltown Community College sophomore outside hitter Elena Yee (1) goes up for the attack against Iowa Western defenders Genesis Sheridan, center, and Evaggelia Athanasiadou during the second set of Wednesday’s Iowa Community College Athletic Conference opener for both teams at the Student Activity Center.

The Marshalltown Community College volleyball team was swept by No. 17 Iowa Western CC in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference opener on Wednesday night.

The Tigers (15-5, 0-1 ICCAC) fell to the Reivers 25-15, 25-21, 25-6.

In the first set, the two teams were tied at 11-11 but Iowa Western closed the set with an 8-1 run.

MCC battled back and jumped to an 11-4 lead in Set 2. However, the Reivers (8-5, 1-0) tied the game with a 10-3 run at 14-14. Iowa Western took a 22-18 lead, but the Tigers cut the deficit to 22-21 before Iowa Western closed the set with a 3-0 run.

In the final set, all the momentum belonged to Iowa Western. MCC took a 1-0 lead to start the set but Iowa Western quickly broke away with an 11-0 run that helped the Reivers close out the set and match.

T-R PHOTO BY ANDREW ABADIE - Marshalltown Community College’s Fauniel Olander (from right), Raquel Gonzales, Elena Yee and Marija Egic celebrate a point against Iowa Western during Wednesday’s ICCAC match at the Student Activity Center in Marshalltown.

“It was a big game for all of us whether you are used to starting or you are not,” MCC setter Raquel Gonzales said. “This was just a huge step in the right direction that we can play out when we do play our game.”

Interim head coach Frank Hanes was still pleased with his team’s effort despite the ending.

“Big momentum swing at the start of the third set,” Hanes said. “I feel like we held it together the first couple sets. [The last set] was all energy. We got into a rut. It’s hard to dig yourself out when you are five points down. I think we went out well but things didn’t go our way right away and it kind of accumulated after that.”

Notably, the Tigers were without starters Hannah Knapke and Jelena Vucic. Knapke is out with a concussion while Vucic is out with an undisclosed injury.

“I’m proud of everyone,” Hanes said “They have stepped up. They gave them a fight. I was proud of everyone. The big thing is to get healthy and we have got three more games this weekend. We’ll take it easy and try and get ready for those games. We’ll have more mental rather than physical practices going forward and just try to get everyone good.”

T-R PHOTO BY ANDREW ABADIE

MCC will host NIACC on Friday at home starting at 7 p.m.

T-R PHOTO BY ANDREW ABADIE

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