ARENAS AND SAFRANEK LEAD HAWKS PAST PANTHERS ON SOPHOMORE NIGHT

NORFOLK, Neb. – The Northeast Community College volleyball team returned to the Cox Activities Center Tuesday night for a conference battle with Ellsworth Community College. The Hawks took the matchup by a final score of 3-0 for their fourth-straight sweep.

Northeast (22-12, 6-2 ICCAC) entered the night just one spot ahead of the visiting Panthers in the current ICCAC standings with the showdown having a huge role in how playoff seeding will be set. Alex Arenas (Wakefield, Neb.) tallied 10 kills while Shaylyn Safranek (Merna, Neb.) recorded four blocks, three ace serves and 29 assists for the Hawks. The win tonight puts Northeast third in the standings with a battle against No. 11 Iowa Central Community College ahead Thursday night, who are currently seeded second in the ICCAC.

Sophomores Avery Couch (David City, Neb.) Kaidence Wilson (North Loup, Neb.), Jayda Christensen (Norfolk, Neb.), Jayden Bestenlehner (Omaha, Neb.), Alexa Cunningham (Wausa, Neb.), Shaylyn Safranek and Alex Arenas were honored after the match as part of Sophomore Night.

STAT SHEET:

SET SCORES: 25-19, 25-19, 25-15

Kills: Alex Arenas (Wakefield, Neb.)

Blocks: Jayda Christensen (Norfolk, Neb.) 4, Shaylyn Safranek (Merna, Neb.) 4

Ace Serves: Shaylyn Safranek 3

Digs: Katy Jones (Hartington, Neb.) 19

Assists: Shaylyn Safranek 29

HEAR FROM THE HAWKS COACH:

Head Volleyball Coach Amanda Schultze on tonight and using the momentum that her squad currently has:

"I felt like we started out really slow, but towards the end of that third set we finally got going and we were all meshing really well," Schultze said. "If we can show up and play at the top of our game the rest of the regular season, I think we can win out. If we are on the top of our game like we were last weekend, we know that we can win."

Schultze on sending her sophomores out with a victory on Sophomore Night:

"It means a lot to get a win on Sophomore Night and Parents Night," Schultze said. "They have done a lot for this program the last two years. They do a lot in leading our freshmen and holding them accountable with study tables and things that they need to get done outside of volleyball, as well as in practices and games."

UP NEXT:

The Hawks will hit the road for another conference matchup against No. 11 Iowa Central Community College at 7 p.m. Thursday in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

HAWKS HAPPENINGS:

For all the latest information on Northeast Hawks Athletics, please visit northeasthawks.com. For updates and other exciting content, follow:

@northeastcchawks on Facebook

@northeasthawks on Instagram

@northeasthawks on TikTok

@NortheastHawks on Twitter/X

@NortheastCCVB on Twitter/X