BIG CROWDS FUEL HAWKS DURING NORFOLK MARRIOTT INVITATIONAL

NORFOLK, Neb. – The Northeast Community College volleyball team was at home for the first time this year at they hosted the Norfolk Marriott Invitational at the Cox Activities Center in Norfolk over the weekend. The Hawks took down both Briar Cliff University JV and McCook Community College Friday by final scores of 3-0 and 3-1 before falling to Cloud County Community College 3-2 on Saturday.

Northeast (6-2) had enormous fan support throughout the entire weekend as the Hawks hosted a tournament that included 13 different games in two days. Northeast made quick work of both Briar Cliff JV and McCook as they only dropped one set in the two matchups combined.

Saturday's showdown with Cloud County went all the way to five sets after the Hawks made an enormous rally in the fourth set to extend the ballgame. The T-Birds would eventually go on to seal the victory in the fifth set, but the Hawks gained valuable experience in a tight battle that they will look upon down the road.

STAT SHEET AGAINST BRIAR CLIFF JV:

Set Scores: 25-10, 25-17, 25-23

Kills: Lauren Buhrman (Wisner, Neb.) 12

Blocks: Alex Arenas (Wakefield, Neb.) 3, Kiara Krusemark (Wayne, Neb.) 2

Ace Serves: Lauren Buhrman (Wisner, Neb.) 2

Digs: Sydney Redden (Wayne, Neb.) 16, Kiara Krusemark 13

Assists: Kiara Krusemark 3, Sydney Redden 3

STAT SHEET AGAINST MCCOOK:

Set Scores: 25-23, 25-21, 23-25, 25-22

Kills: Lauren Buhrman 16, Shaylyn Safranek (Merna, Neb.) 16

Blocks: Avery Couch (David City, Neb.) 4, Lauren Buhrman 2, Shaylyn Safranek 2

Ace Serves: Alex Arenas 3

Digs: Kiara Krusemark 20, Sydney Redden 19, Lauren Buhrman 17, Jayden Bestenlehner (Omaha, Neb.) 13

Assists: Kiara Krusemark 45, Sydney Redden 3

STAT SHEET AGAINST CLOUD COUNTY:

Set Scores: 25-20, 19-25, 18-25, 25-22, 10-15

Kills: Lauren Buhrman 18, Shaylyn Safranek 10, Alex Arenas 10

Blocks: Avery Couch 4, Alexa Cunningham (Wausa, Neb.), Shaylyn Safranek 2

Ace Serves: Alexa Cunningham 3, Kaidence Wilson (North Loup, Neb.) 2, Jayden Bestenlehner 2

Digs: Sydney Redden 23, Alex Arenas 22, Jayden Bestenlehner 18, Kiara Krusemark 17, Lauren Buhrman 16

Assists: Kiara Krusemark 45

HEAR FROM THE HAWKS COACH:

Head Volleyball Coach Amanda Schultze's overall thoughts on what sealed the victories Friday:

"Two freshmen middles stepped up and got the job done," Schultze said. "Shaylyn Safranek really stepped up on the right side."

Schultze on the weekend as a whole:

"We had a pretty good weekend," Schultze said. "We saw some really good things. Some different people stepped up this weekend, which was great to see. We need to work on using our middles a little bit more offensively in transition to make sure that we can get a win on Tuesday."

Schultze on the large crowds during the weekend:

"It means a lot to have a big crowd here," Schultze said. "It's nice that all of our players are from Nebraska so that parents can come and watch. It's so nice to have a big crowd and they brought great energy."

UP NEXT:

The Hawks will host Hawkeye Community College in their first conference matchup of the year at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Cox Activities Center in Norfolk. A special announcement will be made between the second and third sets that all fans are encouraged to come and be a part of.

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