NORTHEAST FIGHTS HARD AGAINST NO. 10 IOWA CENTRAL TUESDAY NIGHT IN NORFOLK

NORFOLK, Neb. – The Northeast Community College volleyball team was back home at the Cox Activities Center in Norfolk Tuesday night for a conference matchup with No. 10 Iowa Central Community College. The Hawks fell in the contest by a final score of 3-0.

Northeast (3-9, 2-1 ICCAC) welcomed the nationally-ranked Tritons to their home floor to continue what has been a stretch where four of the Hawks' last five opponents are currently ranked in the national poll. Mckenna Jones (Yutan, Neb.) continued her impressive stretch of late as she recorded five blocks, three ace serves and 22 assists in the match. Both teams entered the night undefeated in ICCAC play and the Hawks held strong in all three games throughout the night before ultimately falling in each set.

It won't get any easier for Northeast as they will now travel to face No. 16 Des Moines Area Community College on Thursday night in Boone, Iowa, but the Hawks are hopeful that a loaded schedule here in early-season play will put them in a solid position to contend at the right time when the postseason comes around.

STAT SHEET:

SET SCORES: 18-25, 22-25, 17-25

Kills: Rowan O'Keefe (Clear Lake, Iowa) - 8, Daveigh Munter-McAfee (Wakefield, Neb.) - 7

Blocks: Mckenna Jones (Yutan, Neb.) - 5

Ace Serves: Mckenna Jones - 3, Grace Robidoux (Blair, Neb.) - 3

Digs: Katie Borg (Wakefield, Neb.) - 15, Grace Robidoux - 15

Assists: Mckenna Jones (Yutan, Neb.) - 22

HEAR FROM THE HAWKS COACH:

Head Volleyball Coach Amanda Schultze on how her squad performed against a tough opponent Tuesday:

"Tonight, we played a lot better and played more together," Schultze said. "After the first couple of rotations I felt like we picked up our passing a bit more. We played together. I pulled a few people off of the bench and I felt like that helped a bit at times. Mckenna Jones played really well. She had five blocks, two solo blocks and three assists. She did a great job of moving the ball around."

Schultze on what she wants her team to take from tonight heading into a showdown with No. 16 DMACC on Thursday:

"We have to have a better mindset to get out of runs when other teams make them," Schultze said. "We don't want teams to get back into games when we are up three or four points."

UP NEXT:

The Hawks will take on No. 16 Des Moines Area Community College at 7 p.m. Thursday in Boone, Iowa.

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