sewardsaints.com

MCCOOK, Neb. – The Seward County Community College volleyball team opened its season Thursday with a 3-1 loss to McCook Community College (26-28, 21-25, 25-23, 25-27) at the Peter & Dolores Graff Events Center.

The loss marked Seward’s third consecutive season-opening defeat.

The Saints (0-1) continue play Friday at the North Platte CC Tournament, facing Gillette at 1:30 p.m. and Southeast CC at 6:30 p.m. at North Platte’s McDonald-Belton Gymnasium.

Just 10 points separated the teams across the four-set match.

Unofficially, Deniz Ucar led the Saints with 15 kills, while Luisa Berganitini added 10.

The opening set set the tone for the evening, with neither team able to create much separation. Seward trailed 21-18 before rallying to tie the score multiple times, including at 24-all on a kill by Ucar. McCook closed the set with a block to secure a 28-26 victory.

Seward never trailed by more than four points in the second set but were unable to take the lead. McCook used a 21-16 advantage to force a Saints timeout before claiming the set, 25-21, for a 2-0 match lead.

The third set was equally competitive. A kill from Ucar gave Seward a 15-12 lead and forced a McCook timeout. An Indians attack error later extended the Saints’ advantage to 18-13 before McCook rallied to tie the set at 21. Tied 23-23, Seward capitalized on another McCook attack error before Ucar put away the set-clinching kill for a 25-23 win.

The Saints earned their first lead of the fourth set at 16-15 on another Ucar kill. After McCook moved in front 19-18, Seward called timeout. A Lilou Grymonpre service ace gave the Saints a 22-21 lead, and Bergantini followed with a kill to make it 23-21. A kill from Danna Leon gave Seward set point at 24-23, but McCook answered by scoring four of the final six points of the set to secure the victory.