Sports – Page 672 – North Platte Post Archive

NPCC Lady Knights Sweep McCook

Posted on October 24, 2013

The North Platte Community College Lady Knights volleyball team (20-13) finished up their regular season as they swept McCook Community College (1-34) Wednesday night (25-15, 25-19, 25-23). The victory is the 899th in head coach Sally Thalken’s career. The Lady Knights finish the season with a 5-1 record in Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference play. The game was a Pink Out to support the fight against Breast Cancer with a theme of “Volley for the Cure.”

The Lady Knights started out the game fast as they raced out to an early lead and won the first set 25-15. In the second set the Lady Knights continued to play well and won 25-19. The third set was more of a battle before the Lady Knights would end the game with a sweep by the score of 25-23.

The Lady Knights were led by Samantha Kennedy who had 15 kills and two blocks for the game. Samantha Byrn was second with seven kills. Joli Hopping had 37 assists in the game and Shannon Liewer had 22 digs.

“It was nice to get another win,” said head coach Sally Thalken. “It was great that everyone on the team saw the floor and did some good things to contribute to the win.”

The Lady Knights head to the Region IX Division II Tournament in Beatrice to compete to extend their season on October 31. The Lady Knights will face host Southeast Community College on Thursday October 31 at 7 p.m. to open the round-robin portion of the tournament. The Lady Knights will then play #16 Central Community College at 11 a.m. on Friday November 1 and Dawson Community College at 7 p.m.

After the round-robin has been completed the two teams with the best records will face off on Saturday November 2 at 1 p.m. for the Region IX Division II Tournament Title. The winner will advance to the District G Playoff to compete for a birth in the National Division II Tournament.

Blackshirts Ready for Multiple QB’s

Posted on October 24, 2013

Lincoln, Neb.- The Nebraska football team continued its week of preparation for Saturday’s Big Ten Conference showdown with Minnesota on Wednesday afternoon. The team practiced in half pads for just over two hours inside the Hawks Center and outside at the Ed and Joyanne Gass Practice Fields.

Defensive Coordinator John Papuchis addressed the media after practice, noting the team had a competitive practice Wednesday in preparation for the Golden Gophers.

“We are a little bit further ahead obviously than we usually are on a Wednesday, but it was good. We had a competitive period with our offense again doing two minute (drill).” Papuchis said, “I thought the energy was good, the temp was good, and I think the guys are excited to play again.”

Papuchis hopes the Husker defense keeps up its intensity for Saturday’s matchup in Minneapolis, as the Blackshirts are preparing for the Gophers two- quarterback system.

Minnesota uses both sophomore Philip Nelson and freshman Mitch Leidner in their quarterback rotation. Leidner is more of a rushing threat, racking up 344 yards rushing (second on team) with five touchdowns (tied for team lead). Nelson, on the other hand, is more of a pass first quarterback, throwing for 492 yards completing just under 54 percent of his passes.

Even with one quarterback being more of a runner, and the other being the passer, Papuchis doesn’t believe the Golden Gopher offense changes much when they make a change at quarterback.

“Yeah they are very similar and they run the same offense, so it doesn’t really make a difference for us who they put out there. They are kind of the same guy anyway.” Papuchis said.

Papuchis did note that one thing the Minnesota quarterbacks and the entire Gopher team does well is play physical football.

“They both are physical runners—the whole team is a physical group, the way I look at it, they are going to pound the football and try to impose their will on us.” Papuchis said, “It is going to come down to who is tougher.”

Nebraska will hit the practice field again on Thursday as the team moves closer to its third conference game of the season. NU will face the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN/WatchESPN.

Storm Add Horn, Announce Trades

Posted on October 24, 2013October 25, 2013

KEARNEY, Neb. – Tri-City Storm head coach and general manager Josh Hauge announced the club will add forward Christian Horn to the roster for the remainder of the 2013-14 season on Thursday.

Horn started his season as a redshirt freshman at the University of Minnesota but decided to leave the team to play in the USHL. He will give the Storm added depth and talent as a forward with collegiate hockey experience.

“I think he’s going to bring a high level of skill,” Hauge said. “He is extremely excited to play and is going to bring a lot of energy right away. I think he’ll be a leader and a guy that can score some big goals for us. He’s been practicing and playing every day with unbelievable hockey players so he’s going to be prepared.”

The Plymouth, Minn. native played his high school hockey at Benilde St. Margaret’s with Storm forward Dan Labosky, winning a Minnesota state class AA title in 2012. Horn served as the team captain and finished school with team records for career points (207) and assists (127).

After a 4-0-0 start to their season, Minnesota is currently ranked No. 1 in both major college hockey polls.

The move, similar to one the Storm made last season to add Trevor Mingoia from Union College, comes exactly one year to the day that Hauge brought in the talented forward. Mingoia played in 43 games last season with the Storm, scoring 13 goals and 26 assists for 39 points. He is now a member of the Providence College Friars.

Hauge also announced three trades as corresponding moves with the addition of Horn.

Tri-City has traded a fifth round draft pick in the 2014 Phase I Draft for defenseman Sean Lang of the Muskegon Lumberjacks. Lang played in nine games for the Jacks this year, registering four assists, 10 shots and four penalty minutes.

The blueliner is a native of Apple Valley, Minn., and spent last season with Coulee Region in the North American Hockey League. With Coulee, Lang played in 55 games, scoring seven goals and assisting on 14 others. He also had 40 penalty minutes and finished the season with a +6 rating.

The Storm have also traded forward Robbie Payne to the Chicago Steel in exchange for future considerations. Payne had an assist and 20 shots on goal in five games with Tri-City this season.

Finally, the Storm have dealt defenseman Thomas Delaney to the Minnesota Magicians of the NAHL for undisclosed compensation. Delaney played in seven games with Tri-City this season. He didn’t register a point, but had two fighting majors and 18 penalty minutes along with five shots on goal.

“Sean is a defenseman who is going to round out our defensive core,” Hauge said. He can be dependable and move pucks. We wish Robbie and Thomas the best; they’re both great people and I hope they have a lot of success in the future.”

Horn and Lang are expected to join the team on Thursday for practice and will be available to play when Tri-City hits the road this weekend.

The Storm will be in Lincoln to face the Stars on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. The team will then make the short trip to play the Omaha Lancers on Saturday night at the Ralston Arena, also at 7:05 p.m.

The Storm are back in Kearney on Wednesday, October 30 to face Waterloo on Zombie Night at the Viaero Event Center. Face-off is at 7:05 p.m.

NPCC Lady Knights Scrimmage NPCC Alumni Saturday

Posted on October 23, 2013

The North Platte Community College Lady Knights basketball team will scrimmage the NPCC Alumni this Saturday at 7 p.m. in McDonald-Belton Gymnasium. The scrimmage will be a chance for fans to get their first glimpse of the 2013-14 Women’s Basketball team. Admission is free but donations to the Boost-Her Club will be accepted.

The Lady Knights return second-leading scorer (12.9) and rebounder (8.0) in DaVontaye Merritt. The third and fifth leading scorers for the Lady Knights also return in Courtney Widick (9.8) and Jordan Dickerson (7.7). Dickerson led the Lady Knights in assists with 3.4 per game. Samantha Hyatt also returns for the Lady Knights to go along with nine new freshmen.

The Lady Knights open up their season at home as they host the Hampton Inn Classic on November 1 and 2. The Lady Knights will first host Midland University JV at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and then play Fort Carson at 3 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.

AP Nebraska High School Football Rankings

Posted on October 23, 2013October 23, 2013

Here are the Associated Press Nebraska high school football rankings in Classes A through D2. Listings include name of school, season record, previous week’s ranking, previous opponent and result, and next opponent. (NR_Not ranked). The rankings are based on a formula that includes ratings from the Omaha World-Herald and Lincoln Journal Star plus experts for each class. Class A: Dale Miller, Grand Island Independent. Class B: Jeff Fielder, Scottsbluff Star-Herald. Class C1: Tom Behmer, Norfolk Daily News. Class C2: Brent Wasinius, Fremont Tribune. Class D1: Mark Obermeier, North Platte Telegraph. Class D2: Nick Blasnitz, Hastings Tribune.

CLASS A

1. Millard West, (7-1), 3, def. Omaha Northwest 55-0, Bellevue East.

2. Omaha Creighton Prep (6-2), 5, def. Bellevue East 49-7, at Omaha Central.

3. Millard North (4-4), 6, def. Omaha Westside 42-35, at Omaha North.

4. Omaha Westside (7-1), 2, lost to Millard North 42-35, at Papillion-LaVista South.

5. Bellevue West (6-2), 8, def. Omaha North 35-30, at Omaha Burke.

6. Omaha North (7-1), 1, lost at Bellevue West 35-30, Millard North.

7. Grand Island (7-1), 7, def. North Platte 49-0, Lincoln High.

8. Papillion-La Vista (5-3), NR, def. Omaha Burke 28-20, at Millard South.

9. Omaha Central (5-3), 9, def. Omaha Bryan 56-10, Omaha Creighton Prep.

10. Omaha Burke (5-3), 4, lost to Papillion-La Vista 28-20, Bellevue West.

Others receiving votes: Lincoln East.

CLASS B

1. Gretna (8-0), 1, def. Elkhorn 17-10, at Mount Michael Benedictine.

2. Omaha Skutt Catholic (7-1), 2, def. Ralston 28-14, at Omaha Gross Catholic.

3. Ralston (7-1), 3, lost to Omaha Skutt Catholic 28-14, at Omaha Roncalli Catholic.

4. Omaha Gross Catholic (5-3), 5, def. Omaha Roncalli Catholic 42-14, Omaha Skutt Catholic.

5. Aurora (7-1), 6, def. Columbus 35-18, York.

6. York (7-1), 8, def. Northwest 48-18, at Aurora.

7. McCook (7-1), 7, def. Holdrege 17-7, Lexington.

8. Elkhorn (5-3), 10, lost to Gretna 17-10, Elkhorn South.

9. Norris (5-3), NR, def. Crete 10-6, Seward.

10. Elkhorn South (6-2), 9, def. Mount Michael Benedictine 45-12, at Elkhorn.

Others receiving votes: Crete.

CLASS C1

1. Boone Central/Newman Grove (7-0), 1, def. Columbus Lakeview 48-21, Grand Island Central Catholic.

2. Cozad (7-0), 5, def. Minden 48-7, at Ogallala.

3. Syracuse (7-0), 7, def. Lincoln Christian 42-21, at Lincoln Lutheran.

4. Kearney Catholic (6-1) 6, def. Chase County 23-14, Gothenburg.

5. Norfolk Catholic (5-2), 2, lost to Pierce 22-21, Wayne.

6. Wahoo (6-1), 8, def. Logan View 36-0, at Ashland-Greenwood.

7. Adams Central (6-1), 9, def. Grand Island Central Catholic 38-14, St. Paul.

8. Bishop Neumann (4-3), 10, def. Raymond Central 48-8, at Boys Town.

9. Pierce (5-2), NR, def. Norfolk Catholic 22-21, at West Point-Beemer.

10. Columbus Scotus (4-3), NR, def. Madison 47-14. at Columbus Lakeview.

Others receiving votes: Lincoln Christian, Columbus Lakeview.

CLASS C2

1. Doniphan-Trumbull (7-0), 1, def. Hastings St. Cecilia 14-3, at Ravenna.

2. Lutheran High Northeast (7-0), 2, def. Ponca 21-6, at Battle Creek.

3. Archbishop Bergan (6-1), 3, def. North Bend Central 54-27, at Centennial.

4. Aquinas Catholic (6-1), 4, def. Centennial 35-14, at Malcolm.

5. North Platte St. Patrick’s (7-0), 5, def. Dundy County-Stratton 55-6, at Hershey.

6. Blue Hill (6-1), 6, def. Superior 57-13, at Wood River.

7. Battle Creek (7-0), 8, def. Crofton 30-21, Lutheran High Northeast.

8. Hastings St. Cecilia (5-2), 7, lost to Doniphan-Trumbull 14-3, Thayer Central.

9. Sutton (5-2), 9, def. Thayer Central 42-7, Superior.

10. Hershey (7-0), NR, def. Cambridge 36-6, North Platte St. Patrick’s.

Others receiving votes: Hartington Cedar Catholic, Omaha Brownell-Talbot.

CLASS D1

1. Exeter-Milligan (7-0), 1, def. Friend 58-0, at Pawnee City.

2. Howells-Dodge (7-0), 2, def. Omaha Nation 46-14, Clarkson/Leigh.

3. Creighton (7-0), 3, def. Neligh-Oakdale 58-6, Niobrara/Verdigre.

4. Bruning-Davenport/Shickley (7-0), 4, def. Heartland 48-26, Harvard.

5. Overton (7-0), 5, def. Loup City 69-14, Alma.

6. High Plains Community (6-1), 6, bye, at Nebraska Christian.

7. Guardian Angels Central Catholic (6-1), 7, def. Cedar Bluffs 88-6, at Omaha Nation.

8. Randolph (6-1), 8, def. Hartington 70-16, at Pender.

9. Elm Creek (6-1), 9, def. Alma 49-20, at Southwest.

10. Hemingford (7-0), 10, def. Morrill 75-14, Maxwell.

Others receiving votes: Freeman.

CLASS D2

1. Falls City Sacred Heart (7-0), 1, def. Lewiston 69-14, at Deshler.

2. Wynot (7-0), 2, def. Newcastle by forfeit, Wausa.

3. Giltner (6-1), 3, def. Spalding/Spalding Academy 58-24, at Cedar Valley.

4. Amherst (7-0), 4, def. Axtell 69-28, at Lawrence-Nelson.

5. Humphrey St. Francis (6-1), 5, def. Humphrey 32-8, at Bancroft-Rosalie.

6. Shelton (6-1), 7, def. Kenesaw 56-0, Wilcox-Hildreth.

7. Medicine Valley (6-1), NR, def. Wallace 42-36, Hayes Center.

8. Fullerton (5-2), 8, def. Heartland Lutheran 83-20, Pleasanton.

9. Nebraska Lutheran (7-0), 9, bye, Parkview Christian.

10. Lyons-Decatur Northeast (7-1), 10, def. Scribner-Snyder 50-36, bye.

Others receiving votes: Wallace, Stuart.

Martinez, Huskers Look to Heal Up for Gophers

Posted on October 23, 2013

Lincoln, Neb.- The Nebraska football team continued its week of preparation for Saturday’s Big Ten conference matchup with Minnesota on Tuesday afternoon. The team practiced in full pads for just over two hours inside the Hawks Center and outside at the Ed and Joyanne Gass Practice Fields.

Offensive Coordinator Tim Beck addressed the media after practice, beginning with the status of senior quarterback Taylor Martinez.

“He’s doing what he can do right now, and we’re just easing him back into things,” Beck said. “If he needs a break, we give him a break. It’s a day-to-day, period-to-period deal.”

Martinez has made a school-record 42 starts at quarterback for Nebraska, but he has missed the last three games due to a turf toe injury. Beck commented on the effect that missed time has had on Martinez.

“There’s a little bit of rust with (Taylor Martinez), but he still sees things well,” Beck said. “He’s a veteran player and he sees defenses well. He knows where he needs to go with the ball. He’s just getting the cobwebs out a little bit.”

Martinez is just four touchdowns away from tying Eric Crouch’s school-record 90 career touchdowns. However, the effect of his absence has been reduced by the stellar play of freshman Tommy Armstrong, who has thrown for 347 yards and three touchdowns in three starts. On Tuesday Beck also addressed the possibility of having multiple quarterbacks see action for the fourth straight game.

“I think both (Tommy Armstrong) and (Taylor Martinez) have earned the right to play, but you can only play one guy at a time” Beck said. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get there, but we’re going to play the best guy, the healthiest guy and the guy that’s going to help us win.”

Martinez isn’t the only Husker who has missed time with injury. Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award Watch List offensive lineman Spencer Long lost his season to injury against Purdue, leaving Nebraska with a hole to fill up front. Beck mentioned how the team has gone about replacing one of its standout performers in the trenches.

“Mike Moudy filled in and played pretty well for us,” Beck said. “Right now Mike’s in that position. We’re using Ryne Reeves and Givens Price behind those guys right now, and they’ve been doing a good job.”

Nebraska will hit the practice field again on Wednesday as the team moves closer to its third conference game of the season. NU will face the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN/WatchESPN.

Hooper Named to Wooden Preseason Top 30

Posted on October 23, 2013October 25, 2013

Lincoln – Nebraska’s Jordan Hooper earned mention among the best women’s basketball players in the nation, when she was named to the John R. Wooden Award’s Preseason Top 30 on Wednesday, Oct. 23.

Hooper, a 6-2 senior forward from Alliance, Neb., was named to the Wooden’s preseason list for the second straight season. Last year, Hooper helped Nebraska to the NCAA Sweet 16 while earning honorable-mention All-America honors from both the Associated Press and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).

The two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection averaged 17.9 points and 8.8 rebounds per game as a junior in 2012-13. Hooper enters her senior season in position to challenge Nebraska school records for points, rebounds and three-pointers. She enters her fourth year as a Husker starter with 1,685 points, 811 rebounds and 215 made threes.

During the summer of 2013, Hooper helped the USA Basketball Women’s World University Games Team to a gold-medal game victory over Russia. In the championship game, she earned the start and produced nine points and nine rebounds. Her USA Basketball teammates on the Wooden Award Preseason Top 30 include, Odyssey Sims (Baylor), Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (UConn), Bria Hartley (UConn) Theresa Plaisance (LSU), Shoni Schimmel (Louisville), Tricia Liston (Duke), Cassie Harberts (USC) and Aaryn Ellenberg (Oklahoma).

Hooper is one of three Big Ten players on the Wooden Award Preseason Top 30, joining senior Maggie Lucas from Penn State and junior guard Rachel Banham from Minnesota.

Hooper and her Nebraska teammates open exhibition play for the 2013-14 season on Sunday when they take on Pittsburg State. The game is set for 2 p.m. at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

2013 John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 30

Name	Height	Class	Position	University	Conference
Natalie Achonwa	6-3	Sr.	F	Notre Dame	ACC
Rachel Banham	5-9	Jr.	G	Minnesota	Big Ten
Brittany Boyd	5-9	Jr.	G	California	Pac-12
Gennifer Brandon	6-2	Sr.	F	California	Pac-12
Hallie Christofferson	6-3	Sr.	F	Iowa State	Big 12
Jerica Coley	5-8	Sr.	G	FIU	Conference USA
Jazmine Davis	5-7	Jr.	PG	Washington	Pac-12
Diamond DeShields	6-1	Fr.	G	North Carolina	ACC
Stefanie Dolson	6-5	Sr.	C	UConn	The American
Aaryn Ellenberg	5-7	Sr.	G	Oklahoma	Big 12
Bashaara Graves	6-2	So.	F	Tennessee	SEC
Chelsea Gray	5-11	Sr.	G	Duke	ACC
Cassie Harberts	6-2	Sr.	F	USC	Pac-12
Bria Hartley	5-8	Sr.	G	UConn	The American
Jordan Hooper	6-2	Sr.	F	Nebraska	Big Ten
Tricia Liston	6-1	Sr.	G	Duke	ACC
Maggie Lucas	5-10	Sr.	G	Penn State	Big Ten
Tyuanna Marshall	5-9	Sr.	G	Georgia Tech	ACC
Kayla McBride	5-11	Sr.	G	Notre Dame	ACC
Xylina McDaniel	6-2	So.	F	North Carolina	ACC
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis	6-0	Jr.	F	UConn	The American
Chiney Ogwumike^#	6-4	Sr.	F	Stanford	Pac-12
Theresa Plaisance	6-5	Sr.	F	LSU	SEC
Shoni Schimmel	5-6	Jr.	G	Louisville	The American
Meighan Simmons	5-9	Sr.	G	Tennessee	SEC
Odyssey Sims^#	5-8	Sr.	G	Baylor	Big 12
DeNesha Stallworth	6-3	Sr.	F	Kentucky	SEC
Breanna Stewart	6-4	So.	F	UConn	The American
Alyssa Thomas	6-2	Sr.	F	Maryland	ACC
Elizabeth Williams	6-3	Jr.	C/F	Duke	ACC

November Outdoor Calendar, Hunter Education Instructor Training

Posted on October 22, 2013October 22, 2013

November Outdoor Calendar

LINCOLN – The following is a listing of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission events and important dates in November:
Nov. 1 – November Late Doe/Fawn antelope hunting season opens
Nov. 1 – Hunting and trapping seasons open for raccoon, Virginia opossum, long-tailed weasel, mink, red fox, gray fox and badger
Nov. 1 – Muskrat and beaver trapping seasons open
Nov. 1 – Most 2014 annual permits and stamps available for purchase at OutdoorNebraska.org
Nov. 2 – Candlelight Tour, Fort Atkinson State Historical Park, Fort Calhoun, 402-471-0641
Nov. 4 – Woodcock hunting season closes
Nov. 4 – Tickets go on sale for Historical Christmas Dinner at Fort Robinson State Park (SP), 308-665-2900
Nov. 9 – Virginia and sora rail hunting season closes
Nov. 11 – All Game and Parks offices closed in observance of Veterans Day; Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium open
Nov. 15 – First segment of crow hunting season closes
Nov. 16 – Special Public Health Hazard Order crow hunting opens
Nov. 16-24 – November firearm deer hunting season
Nov. 17 – Fort Robinson SP longhorn and buffalo sale, Crawford, 308-665-2900 Nov. 21 – Growing Up WILD workshop, Benson Baptist Church, Omaha, 7 p.m.,402-471-5363
Nov. 29-Dec. 1 – Cornucopia of Crafts, Eugene T. Mahoney SP, Ashland, 402-944-2523
Nov. 29-Feb. 28 – Winterfest, Ponca SP, Ponca, 402-755-2284
Nov. 30-Dec. 1 – Roger G. Sykes Outdoor Heritage Education Complex open to public, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Platte River SP, Louisville, 402-234-2217
Contact Game and Parks at 402-471-0641 or visit OutdoorNebraska.org for more information. Visit HuntSafeNebraska.org for a list of hunter education classes.

Hunter Education Instructor Training Scheduled

LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will train apprentice firearm hunter edu
cation instructors Nov. 5 at Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium, 21502 W. Neb. Hwy. 31, Gretna, and Nov. 7 at the Hunter Education Office, 4817 N. 56th St., Lincoln.
The three-hour workshops begin at 6 p.m. Register for the Gretna workshop by Nov. 4 or the Lincoln workshop by Nov. 6. Contact Mike Streeter at 402-471-6134 or[email protected] or visit huntsafenebraska.org.

MPCC Rodeo Team’s Tyler Viers Ranked Second Nationally as Fall Season Winds Down

Posted on October 22, 2013

When Comstock’s Tyler Viers joined the Mid-Plains Community College Rodeo Team in July, Coach Dustin Elliott had high hopes for the young bull rider. Those hopes were realized this week as Viers was ranked first in the Great Plains Region and second nationally in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s standings.

The announcement came on the heels of Viers’ win at North Dakota State University Oct. 18-19. His score of 153 in two rounds left him with 530 total points for the first half of the intercollegiate rodeo season – only 26 points behind the first place score. By comparison, his closest competitor finished 120 points behind him in the national standings.

“I’m staying hungry,” he said when asked about his success so far this year. “I’m motivated and I really want to win.”

“You can see it in Tyler’s eyes and demeanor that he wants to win,” agreed Elliott. “He’s got what it takes to walk away with not only the regional title, but a national title as a freshman.”

Viers, the son of Shane and Sandy Hickey and Jason and Cindy Viers, is a 2013 graduate of Sargent High School. He finished seventh in the nation in bull riding at the 2013 National High School Finals Rodeo Championship in Rock Springs, Wyo., on July 20.

With his sights firmly set on a career in bull riding, it just made sense for Viers to attend North Platte Community College and learn all he could from Elliott, himself a World Champion bull rider.

“Dustin is not only a great coach, he’s a mentor,” he said.

With five rodeos completed and five more remaining in the spring, Viers is optimistic about his chances for coming out on top in his first year of intercollegiate bull riding.

“I think my chances are pretty good,” he said. “I just hope to keep riding good and getting ‘em rode.”

The MPCC Rodeo Team finished the first half of the season in eighth place in the Great Plains Region with 180 points.

“The team has been close on several occasions,” Elliott said. “When competing against schools like UNL, SDSU, and NDSU and us only going into our fourth year as a program, I couldn’t be happier with what we’ve done to this point.”

For more information about MPCC’s Rodeo Team, contact Elliott at (308) 535-3686, email [email protected], or visit the Mid-Plains Community College Rodeo Team page on Facebook.

NPCC Lady Knights Close Regular Season at McCook

Posted on October 22, 2013

The North Platte Community College Lady Knights volleyball team (19-13) close out their regular season on Wednesday night as they travel to McCook to face the McCook Community College Lady Indians (1-32) at 7 p.m. The game’s theme is “Volley for the Cure” with a Pink Out to support the fight against Breast Cancer. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN 1410.

The Lady Knights and Lady Indians faced off once already this season over a month ago. In the first meeting the Lady Knights emerged victorious in three sets (25-21, 25-12, 25-20). Samantha Kennedy and Samantha Byrn led the Lady Knights with seven kills apiece in the first contest.

The game brings added significance as it is a Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference game. The current standings include a tie at first-place between North Platte and Central Community College with a 4-1 record. Both teams face McCook this week as Central hosts McCook this Friday. North Platte and Central split their two meetings their year and won on their home courts.

The Lady Knights will then head to the Region IX Division II Tournament in Beatrice to compete to extend their season. The Lady Knights will face host Southeast Community College on Thursday October 31 at 7 p.m. to open the round-robin portion of the tournament. The Lady Knights will then play #16 Central Community College at 11 a.m. on Friday November 1 and Dawson Community College at 7 p.m. After the round-robin has been completed the two teams with the best records will face off on Saturday November 2 at 1 p.m. for the Region IX Division II Tournament Title. The winner will advance to the District G Playoff to compete for a birth in the National Division II Tournament.