Scottsbluff, Nebraska

Non-conference matches, a valued commodity during this Covid-19 season, have been a chance for Iowa Western to test their mettle.  The Reivers took the show on the road Friday to face off against Division II McCook and NJCAA D1 #9 Western Nebraska.

Iowa Western bested a scrappy McCook squad, 25-17, 25-19, 25-15 as the Reivers played one of their best defensive matches of the season.  Leah Palensky led the team with 12 digs, while Dayan Malave led the squad in both kills (11) and blocks (2.5). 

"The match proved to be a great opportunity to get warmed up for Western Nebraska as MCC kept us honest." Said Head Coach Alicia Williams, "They (MCC) never really let us get going to score too many.  Irem (Iremnur Elsmas) had a decent rally in the third to open it a bit wider, but the first two sets were back and forth and Irem played great defense."

In the second match for IWCC, the 6th ranked Reivers faced longtime rival WNCC.  Maike Bertens started hot for the Reivers, picking up five kills in the opening set as IW dominated set one 25-14 and went on to win the match in straight sets with 25-18, and 25-20 wins in sets two and three.  The Reivers picked up 10 blocks in the match with Yadhira Anchante leading the way with 3.5 and Palensky tallied 12 more digs in the victory.  Bertens finished with 13 kills as IWCC (14-3) chalked up their 11th straight win.

"This was a very good college volleyball match-up between two top 10 teams." Williams said after the match, "We hadn't played a lot in the last month so we needed a match like this to gauge where we compare to other good teams.  I was really proud of the way we competed tonight and think we turned a corner with some of the things we've been emphasizing in practice."

The road matches were just the beginning of a long final week of the regular season.  IWCC travels to face Kirkwood (NJCAA DII #6, #2 ICCAC) tomorrow (Sunday, 3/14/21) and will meet Iowa Central (NJCAA DII #4, #3 ICCAC) on Monday as the last road trip of the regular season continues.  The Reivers will then return home to close the regular season to face 16th ranked Missouri State-West Plains on Thursday as part of a day-night doubleheader with the Grizzlies and Northeast (NE) before wrapping up with a Sophomore Day match-up against Indian Hills on Sunday, March 21st.

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