After a two hour and thirty minute five set match on Monday, the North Platte Community College Lady Knights (17-8) volleyball team followed it up with a two hour eleven minute five set match on Wednesday as they defeated the Southeast Lady Storm (9-12) to finish the season 10-1 at home (24-26, 25-11, 20-25, 25-20, 15-13).

The match was the last home contest of the season and marked the final home game for the five sophomores in the Lady Knights program. The sophomores include Laura Beckman of Julesburg, Colo., Sabrina Hallahan of Brush, Colo., Sandrina Hallahan of Brush, Colo., Jacee Kershaw of Culbertson and Shannon Liewer of Imperial.

The first set would start out with neither team being able to gain any advantage as the teams exchanged side outs. The Lady Storm would open up a 15-17 lead and force the Lady Knights into a timeout. The Lady Knights would even the game back up and the two teams would exchange leads until the Lady Storm again pulled ahead 21-23 forcing another Lady Knights timeout. The Lady Knights would again even the score at 23 before the Lady Storm earned a game point. The Lady Knights extended the set by blocking a kill attempt. The Lady Storm would score the final two points to take the first set 24-26

The second set would open with the Lady Storm scoring the first point of the set. It wouldn’t last long as the Lady Knights raced out to an 8-4 lead that forced a Southeast timeout. The Lady Knights would then extend their lead and take control of the match at 15-8. The Lady Knights would continue to extend their lead to 24-9. The Lady Storm scored two more points but it was not enough as the Lady Knights evened the match at one set apiece with a 25-11 victory.

The third set was similar to the first set as neither team could gain an advantage early in the set. The teams would trade side outs and leads before the Lady Storm would earn the first two point lead of the night at 18-20. Southeast would extend the lead to 18-23 before the Lady Knights would score two straight. It was too little too late as the Lady Storm would take the third set 20-25.

The Lady Knights started strong in the fourth set as they opened up a 7-3 lead that forced the Lady Storm into an early timeout. The lead would prove to be insurmountable as the Lady Knights would extend their lead and not allow the Lady Storm to get any closer than four points at 22-18 and 23-19 on their way to a 25-20 fourth set victory

The deciding fifth set would be back and forth as neither team could gain a large advantage. The teams switched sides of the court as the Lady Knights held the slimmest of leads at 8-7. After being tied at 9-9 the Lady Knights would score three straight points to take a 12-9. The Lady Storm would score the next two before the teams traded points to leave the score at 13-12. The Lady Knights would earn a set and game point at 14-12 forcing a Southeast timeout. The Lady Storm would score a point to extend the match but a spike by Sandrina Hallahan would win the set and game for the Knights 15-13.

“I wanted to win so bad since it was our last home game,” said Sandrina Hallahan. “I put all of my effort into that last hit.”

The Lady Knights were led by Samantha Byrn who finished with 13 kills. Sandrina Hallahan and Kylie Wroot were also in double figures with 11 and Samantha Kennedy was as well with 10. Joli Hopping had 26 assists and Laura Beckman had 24 for the Lady Knights. Shannon Liewer led the team with 20 digs.

“I am so proud of our sophomores and everything they have brought to this program,” said head coach Sally Thalken. “I was happy to win their last home game but we need to find a way to start matches out faster.”

The Lady Knights return to action this Friday and Saturday as they travel to Columbus for the Jimmy John Invite. The Knights will play their first game at 1 p.m. on Friday against #20 Bismarck State College and will play again at 5 p.m. against Division I #8 Iowa Western. The competition remains stiff as Saturday the Lady Knights face #1 Cowley County Community College at11 a.m. and Kansas City Kansas Community College at 3 p.m.