By Marissa VanWingen
Playing in the two-day Siouxland Tournament, Ellsworth Community College went 2-2 with a five set win over North Dakota State College of Science and a three-set sweep over Minnesota North College-Rainy River.
For the second time over the weekend, the Panthers found themselves down two sets to none and came all the way back. NDSCS won the opening two games by identical 26-24 scores. ECC then earned victories in the next two by the same 25-19 finals. All the momentum had shifted in the Panthers favor by then, winning the fifth 15-7. ECC recorded 12 service aces, led by Camylle Le Meur with six ace serves. Their hitting efficiency was .313 with 71 kills. Elsa Raga hit over .500 with 23 kills and just three errors and Juliana Nunez added 27 spikes.
The Panthers followed that win with the 25-18, 28-26, 25-15 sweep over Minnesota North. In that match, serving was once again on point as ECC had 10 aces - including three from Vera Hojnacki. The hits were more spread out as Giovanna Marins led the way with 14. Raga also in double figures with 11 kills.
Even though the Panthers lost to Minnesota West Community and Technical College - it was a close four sets. The two went well beyond the regular 25-points in the opening game with ECC winning 31-29. The Bluejays then took the next three games in a row for the victory - 25-21, 25-14, 25-22.
The Panthers finished with 48 kills, hitting at a .068 clip. Nunez finished with 18 kills and Madi Hughston tallied 13 in the loss. Defensively, the squad finished with 87 digs - 28 from Nunez and 21 by Hughston. Anthea Deweer was a wall at the net with five blocking assists.
ECC found itself down two sets to zero versus Lake Region State and came all the way back to force a fifth set. The Royals won the first two 25-17, 25-22 before the Panthers earned 25-19, 25-23 victories. In the deciding game, it was Lake Region State that won 15-11. Nunez finished with 22 kills, followed by Adriana Tiedt's 18. The team tallied 94 digs - four in double figures. Hojnacki led with 18, while Nunez and Le Meur each had 17 and Tiedt added 15.
For more on ECC Athletics, click here: https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.timescitizen.com%2fsports%2fecc%2f&c=E,1,0fpt2KwKKvdtYxJ6yrrkGk_U-XKu4g8GPCBMN6vKGe1TmXnkNsUW7edpA59iY0SXvaG09z_v-JbpGq6ddRAdM2ypMfpD2T5PkXOBBk2rRke8&typo=1
Siouxland Tournament Friday and Saturday at Sioux City
ECC: lost to Minnesota West Community and Technical College 29-31, 25-21, 25-14, 25-22; lost to Lake Region State College 25-17, 25-22, 19-25, 23-25, 15-11; def. North Dakota State College of Science 24-26, 24-26, 25-19, 25-19, 15-7; def. Minnesota North College - Rainy River 25-18, 28-26, 25-15.
ECC Stats:
Kills: Juliana Nunez 69; Elsa Raga 46; Adriana Tiedt 37; Anthea Deweer 24; Madi Hughston 17; Giovanna Marins 16; Vera Hojnacki 8; Sydnee Kammrad 5; Camylle Le Meur 2; Lauren Mauk 1.
Assists: Hojnacki 177; Le Meur 11; Nunez 9; Tiedt 4; Mauk 2; Kammrad 2; Raga 2; Marins 2. Digs: Le Meur 60; Nuez 58; Hojnacki 39; Tiedt 39; Hughston 32; Mauk 20; Deweer 14; Marins 13; Raga 9; Kammrad 6.
Blocks: Deweer 6.5; Kammrad 4.5; Hojnacki 2.5; Raga 2.5; Hughston 1; Tiedt 1; Marins .5.
Serving Aces: Le Meur 12; Tiedt 5; Nunez 5; Hojnacki 4; Mauk 3; Deweer 3; Marins 2.