North Platte – A North Platte Community College softball player will represent her home country on the international stage Nov. 11 – 16 in Santa Marta, Colombia.

NPCC Knight Sophomore softball player Alejandra Vivar, from Lima, Peru will compete on the Peruvian national team in the Bolivarian Games.

According to the official website, Bolivarian Games have 11 countries participating in 34 sports. In the softball competition, there are five teams competing: Peru, Bolivia, Panama, Colombia and Venezuela.

“This is a tournament that is going to help teams qualify for the Pan-American games in 2019,” Vivar said. “We don’t need to qualify since we are hosting the Pan-American games.”

Vivar said that these games are going to help us realize the level of competition we will face in 2019.

“I am really excited to be able to play for my country,” Vivar said. “Even though softball is not our strongest sport, it is such a big honor to represent my country since not everyone has that opportunity. We have been working really hard to improve the softball in Peru, and I think every day we can tell the difference. Our federation is giving us the opportunity to travel and see the softball level out of the country, and those are experiences worth taking advantage of.”

Vivar said that four years ago, when practicing for the 2013 Bolivarian Games, they didn’t have a field to practice on. This year they have their own softball field and have players studying and playing ball in the U.S. She said perseverance has been reflected from everyone behind the project, and working together has made them move forward.

My grades and my hard work here has shown that I am able to represent my country,” Vivar said.

Peru will open up on Nov. 12 against Panama.

North Platte – The North Platte Community College Lady Knights volleyball team has signed Sydney Mullen from Maxwell, Neb., to a letter of intent to play volleyball for the Lady Knights during the 2018 season.

Mullin, who is 5′ 11, is the first recruit for the Lady Knights for the 2018 season.

During her career at Maxwell High School, MullinShe also had 250 total blocks and 142 service aces in 317 sets. During that time, she had 1098 kills and a .251 kill efficiency. played varsity for all four years.

“We are really excited that Sydney is the beginning of our 2018 recruiting class,” Lady Knight Head Coach Alexa McCall said. “She is super athletic and is going to be an impact player for us. She is a hard worker and a great kid!”

She is the daughter of Eric and Ursula Burton and was coached by Gina Sommers.

North Platte – The opening of the 2017-18 basketball season didn’t go as planned for the North Platte Community College Knights basketball team on Wednesday night, losing to the Hastings College Junior Varsity Broncos 88-83 at the McDonald-Belton Gymnasium.

The Broncos jumped out to a 17-7 lead, making their first five out of six three-pointers in the game. The Knights rallied to tie the score at 23 each.

The Knights went on an 18-1 run to take their biggest lead of 17 at 41-24. Trajan Harris scored 12 points during the run, including three three-pointers for the Knights.

The Broncos finished the half on a 16-8 run on four three pointers to trail the Knights at halftime 49-40.

The Broncos opened up the second half on a 19-10 run to tie the game up at 59 on a three-pointer by North Platte St. Pats graduate Bryce Byrn.

With the score tied at 62, the Broncos took the lead for good on a putback by Stratton Discoe to make it 64-62.

The Knights cut the Bronco lead to one at 83-82 on a basket by Godfrey Rolle.

For the game the Broncos made 13 of 30 from behind the three-point line.

Rolle led all scorers with 27 points. Harris added 17 for the Knights as the only other Knight to score in double figures. Buom Dubuol had nine rebounds and Ty Clement had eight to lead the Knights.

Ryan Ierna was one of five Broncos in double figures with 18 points. Byrn and Discoe each had 17 points. Trevor Adelung added 12 points and Zach Johnson added 11 points. Ierna also collected nine rebounds to lead the Broncos.

The Knights are in action next on November 17-18 when they travel to Cheyenne, Wyoming to play in the Laramie County Community College Classic.

They do not play at home until December 1, when they face Region IX South Sub-Region foe, Laramie County Community College.

North Platte – Four of the members of the North Platte Community College Lady Knights volleyball team were recognized at the Region IX Division II tournament, October 28, as All-Region and All-Tournament members.

Luisa Hernandez, Carlie Wytulka, and Aly Camacho were named to the All-Region IX Division II Team. Hernandez, Wytulka, and Antonya Schaffert were named to the Region IX Division II All-Tournament Team.

Hernandez, a freshman outside hitter from Yuma, Colo., led the Lady Knights in kills with 470 kills and defensive digs with 557 digs. Hernandez is fifth on the Lady Knights all-time list for kills in a season and 13th on the kills per set in a season at 3.1 kills per set. She was second on the team in service aces and had 49 total blocks.

Wytulka, a freshman setter from Necle, Colo., led the Lady Knights in set assists with 911 assists. She is 17th on the Lady Knights all-time list for assists Wytulka also had 77 kills, 21 service aces, 361 defensive digs and 59 total blocks.

Camacho, a sophomore middle blocker from Scottsbluff was second on the Lady Knights with 151 total blocks. Camacho had 193 kills and 52 defensive digs. She is 19th on the Lady Knights all-time list for total blocks in a season and eighth in career blocks with 251 total blocks.

Schaffert, a sophomore libero / defensive specialist from Otis, Colo., was second on the Lady Knights in defensive digs and led the Lady Knights in serving percentage at 96 percent. Schaffert is 17th on the Lady Knights all-time list in season serving percentage and eighth in career serving percentage at 95.4 percent. In her career, she went 1054 for 1105 in serving. Schaffert also had 39 service aces and 29 set assists.

The Lady Knights finished the season at 19-23. They were runner-up in the Region IX Division II tournament and tied with Central Community College for the Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference title.

Colorado Springs, Colo – The North Platte Community College Lady Knights basketball team opened the 2017-18 basketball season on the road, losing to Air Force Prep, 79-72.

Ashley Bell, the first year Interim Head Coach of the Lady Knights said, “The girls competed. We made many mental mistakes which down the stretch cost us the game. We shot well from the field and the free throw line. We just have to be more aware of turning the ball over and staying within our offenses.”

The Lady Knights committed 17 turnovers during the game.

Yaasmyn Spivey, a freshman from Omaha, led the Lady Knights in scoring with 14 points. Sophomore Allison Tichy from Bellevue added 11 points.

Spivey also added six rebounds and four assists to lead the Lady Knights. Nahatabaa Nacona, a freshman from Chinle, Ariz., added four assists.

The Lady Knights will have their home opener next Thursday, November 9, against the same opponent. Game time is 5 pm.

Columbus – The North Platte Community College Lady Knights volleyball team opened their quest for the Region IX Division II title on Friday as they defeated Southeast Community College and Central Community College.

In the first round of the National Junior College Athletic Association Region IX Division II tournament, the Lady Knights defeated the Southeast Community College Lady Storm in four sets, 25-20, 25-9, 19-25, and 25-17.

Carly Moss led the Lady Knights with 12 kills and Luisa Hernandez added 11 kills. Carlie Wytulka had 41 set assists, Antonya Schaffert had 21 defensive digs and three service aces to pace the Lady Knights.

In the semifinals on the winner’s bracket the Lady Knights matched up against the number one seed Central Community College Lady Raiders. The game went five sets with the Lady Knights being victorious, 12-25, 25-17, 25-20, 17-25 and 15-13.

Hernandez had 14 kills and Moss had 12 kills for the Lady Knights. Wytulka had 42 set assists, Hernandez had 23 defensive digs, and Schaffert had two service aces.

“I am proud of the fight that we showed. When we pass and serve we are a good team and there were moments that we didn’t.” Lady Knight Head Coach Alexa McCall said, “We have to be ready tomorrow because it will be a tough game and mentally we have to be ready.”

 

The Lady Knights had a chance to wrap up their first Region IX Division II crown on Saturday, but the Central Community College Lady Raiders had different plans and defeated the Lady Knights in four sets, 25-17, 23-25, 25-12 and 25-22, to force an “if necessary” game.

The Lady Raiders, who are the number one seed in the tournament, made it to the championship game by defeating the Southeast Community College Lady Storm in three sets, 25-14, 27-25, and 26-24.

In order to win the championship the Lady Raiders needed to beat the Lady Knights twice.

Lady Knight Assistant Coach Sally Thalken said, “Central definitely came to play. Their back was against the wall. They did a nice job of keeping us out of system. We will be ready to play our best tomorrow and leave everything on the court.”

Luisa Hernandez led the Lady Knight attack with nine kills. Shaylee Johnson and Amanda Kroeger each added eight kills. Carlie Wytulka had 23 defensive digs and 30 set assists to lead the Lady Knights. Carly Moss and Antonya Schaffert had 22 and 21 defensive digs respectively.

Jacie Laetsch had 14 kills and 11 defensive digs. Chainey Tompkin added 13 kills. Paxton Throne had 42 set assists for the Lady Raiders.

On Sunday, the Lady Knights bid for the Region IX Division II title fell short as the Central Community College Raiders defeated the Lady Knights in the championship game in three sets, 25-17, 25-22, and 25-14.

Lady Knight Assistant Coach Sally Thalken said, “I’m proud of the girls. They fought hard and Central played well. We just couldn’t get anything tied together.”

The Lady Knights ended their season with the loss and finished with a 19-23 record.

Luisa Hernandez and Carly Moss each had seven kills each to lead the Lady Knights. As a team the Lady Knights had 25 kills with a .024 hitting percentage.

Carlie Wytulka finished the game with 22 set assists and Antonya Schaffert had 20 defensive digs to lead the Lady Knights.

Hernandez, Wytulka, and sophomore Aly Camacho were named to the All-Region IX Division II team. Hernandez, Wytulka and Schaffert were named to the All–Region IX Division II Tournament team.

For the Lady Raiders, the seven-time defending Region IX Division II champions, they will advance to the District G playoff at Bismarck State College in Bismarck, N.D.

The game finished the Lady Knight career for sophomores, Mikenna Curlee, Schaffert, Madi Gilg, Cheyanne Kuhlmann, and Camacho.

North Platte – The North Platte Community College Lady Knights volleyball team will travel to Columbus to participate in the Region IX Division II volleyball tournament on Friday and Saturday, October 27 and 28.

The Lady Knights are the second seed in the tournament and will face the number three seed Southeast Community College Lady Storm in the first game of the tournament at 5 PM. The winner of that game will face the number one seed Central Community College Lady Raiders at 7:30 PM on Friday.

The Lady Knights are 17-21 on the season and finished the season at 3-1 in Region IX Division II play.

Luisa Hernandez leads the Lady Knights in kills with 429 kills, which is also leading the region. Hernandez also had 487 defensive digs, which leads the Lady Knights and is second in the region.

Carlie Wytulka leads the Lady Knights in set assists with 776 and Carly Moss has 50 service aces to also lead the Lady Knights. Shaylee Johnson had 144 total blocks to lead the Lady Knights.

The Lady Raiders, the number one seed in the tournament and is ranked 11th in the recent National Junior College Athletic Association Division II volleyball poll is 28-9 on the season and 3-1 in Region IX Division II play. They gained the number one seed by winning the tie-breaker over North Platte.

Amber Anderson has 365 kills to lead the Lady Raiders. Jacie Laetsch is second on the team with 312 kills and Chainey Tompkin is third with 307 kills. Laetch has 415 defensive digs and 40 service aces, Paxton Throne has 1138 set assists and Tompkin has 152 total blocks to lead the Lady Raiders.

The Lady Storm are the tournament third seed with a record of 8-23 overall and 0-4 in Region IX Division II play.

Stevie Tobin has 297 kills and 35 service aces to lead the Lady Storm. Katie Ellard leads the Lady Storm and the region with 673 defensive digs. Other leaders for the Lady Storm are Addi Schram with 709 set assists and Maggie Parde with 57 total blocks.

All tournament games will be live streamed. The link can be found at www.npccknights.com.

The winner of the double elimination tournament will travel to play the winner of Region 13 for the District G championship in a best of three playoff for a spot in the NJCAA National Tournament in Charleston, W. Va.

Fort Dodge, Iowa – The North Platte Community College Lady Knights volleyball team swept both games on day one of the Triton Invitational on Friday.

The first game, the Lady Knights defeated the Des Moines Area Community College Lady Bears in three sets, 25-21, 25-16, and 25-19.

Luisa Hernandez had 12 kills for the Lady Knights and Carly Moss added eight kills. Taylin McNair had 19 set assists and Carlie Wytulka added 16. Moss also had 13 defensive digs.

In game two of the day, the Lady Knights defeated the Iowa Lake Community College Lakers in three sets 26-24, 25-6, and 25-14.

Hernandez finished the game with 14 kills, while Aly Camacho and Wytulka ended with nine kills each for the Lady Knights. McNair and Wytulka finished with 22 and 20 set assists respectively. Hernandez also had 14 defensive digs.

Lady Knight Head Coach Alexa McCall said, “I thought overall we served and passed really well for the most part. It helped us defensively and we were able to stay aggressive on offense.”

The Lady Knights finished their regular season by going 0-2 on the final day of the Triton Invitational.

The Lady Knights started off the day by playing the sixth ranked Cowley County Community College Lady Tigers. The Lady Tigers defeated the Lady Knights in three sets, 25-16, 25-17, and 25-19.

Luisa Hernandez led the Lady Knights in kills with 14 kills. Carly Moss had 12 defensive digs and Taylin McNair had 16 set assists to also lead the Lady Knights.

In the second game, the Lady Knights were defeated by the 17th ranked and host Iowa Central Community College Lady Tritons, 25-8, 25-13, and 25-18.

Hernandez had 11 kills, McNair had nine defensive digs, Carlie Wytulka and McNair each had 10 set assists to lead the Lady Knights.

Lady Knight Head Coach Alexa McCall said, “We played some tough teams today and just weren’t able to execute.”

The Lady Knights end the regular season with a 17-21 record. Of the 38 games, 11 opponents are currently ranked in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II ratings or received votes. Three are ranked or received votes in the Division I ratings.

The Lady Knights will begin the Region IX Division II tournament on Friday, October 27 in Columbus. The Lady Knights will be the second seed in the tournament.