North Platte – The No. 15 North Platte Community College Lady Knights started off their 2014 season by earning a split in the opening weekend of the their season and the 2014 Subway Invite.

In the opening game of the year, the Lady Knights defeated the Eastern Wyoming Lady Lancers in straight sets 25-15, 25-16, 25-18. North Platte then dropped their first game of the season to the Sheridan College Lade Generals in a hard fought five match battle 25-23, 17-25, 25-21, 15-25, 14-16. On Saturday the Lady Knights returned to the court where they were defeated by the Casper College Lady Thunderbirds in four sets 25-19, 14-25, 22-25, 20-25. North Platte then earned the split on the weekend by defeated the No. 16 ranked team in Division I, the Northeastern Junior College Lady Plainsmen, in four sets 25-22, 19-25, 25-19, 25-21.

Against the Lady Lancers the Lady Knights were led by freshman Valerie Most who finished with eight kills while sophomore Samantha Kennedy ended with six kills and recorded seven kills to lead North Platte. Sophomore Erika Goodwin was the leader in digs with 15 while sophomore Joli Hopping recorded 19 assists to pace the Lady Knights.

In the second game of the night, North Platte lost a hard fought five set battle to the Lady Generals. Kennedy led the way for the Lady Knights as she recorded 13 kills six blocks. Most was not far behind as she finished with nine kills. Goodwin again led the way with 19 digs while Hopping (12), Samantha Byrn (10) and Gabbie Nickel (10) all finished in double-figure digs. Hopping paced North Platte with 25 assists while Nickel chipped in 14.

On Saturday against Casper no Lady Knight was in double-figures for kills as Valerie Most led the way with nine followed closes by Samantha Kennedy with eight. Erika Goodwin (29) and Samantha Byrn (15) paced North Platte with double-figure digs. Joli Hopping had 23 assists while Gabrielle Nickel chipped in 10.

In the final game of the Subway Invite, the Lady Knights knocked off the nationally ranked Lady Plainsmen behind 16 kills from Kennedy and 12 from Most. Kennedy also paced the Lady Knights with five blocks. Hopping again was in double-figures in assists with 26 as was Nickel with 18. Four Lady Knights were in double-figures in digs led by Goodwin with 25 followed closely by Byrn (22), Hopping (19) and Aryn Mesinger (13).

The Lady Knights return to action next week as they travel to McCook for the McCook Invite on Friday August 29 and Saturday August 30.