COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - In a rematch of the the 2015 NJCAA National Championship between the College of Southern Idaho and Western Nebraska, the Cougars came out on top this time. Second-ranked Western Nebraska defeated top-ranked CSI 25-20, 25-20, 16-25, 25-20 Friday at the Iowa Western Tournament. The Golden Eagles rebounded to beat 16th-ranked Jefferson College 21-25, 25-23, 25-23, 23-25, 15-13 in the late match.
In the opening match, both teams struggled to find any rhythm as the match was halted three times to attend to a slippery floor. After an injury by a Western Nebraska player and several athletes unable to keep their footing, the match was moved to a different court. CSI took advantage to dominate that game but couldn't keep its momentum going and fell in game four.
Only one Golden Eagle player finished with double digit kills. Alycia Wodke posted 12 kills and 11 digs to lead CSI. Morgan Weatherwax added 27 assists, nine digs and four blocks. Luana Thompson had a team high 16 digs.
CSI started its second match slow, falling to Jefferson in game two. But the Golden Eagles took game two and three and looked in control. But a dismal hitting percentage in game four doomed the Eagles and forced a game five. CSI managed just a .054 percentage in that fourth game putting down just 11 kills with nine errors.
Game five was a game of survival as Jefferson posted a .000 hitting percentage and CSI was just enough better at .042 to bring home the win. Wodke again led the Eagles, finishing with 16 kills and 13 digs. Weatherwax had 44 assists, two aces and six blocks. Jojo Kruize had a solid match, finishing with 15 kills, 13 digs and three blocks.
CSI, now 1-1, takes on #4 Iowa Western at 11 a.m. MST and San Jacinto at 3 p.m. MST Saturday.