The top-ranked Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team captured two wins in the first day of the Wyo-Braska Classic at Cougar Palace.

                The Cougars opened the day with a four-game win over Western Wyoming Community College 26-24, 25-21, 22-25, 25-19 before sweeping Seward County Community College 25-18, 25-22, 25-20.

                WNCC coach Binny Canales said it is two wins that he will take against two high-caliber opponents.

                "Western Wyoming improved a lot since the last time we played them and they have some good hitters and we had to adjust," he said. "And Seward is a good team. They have a lot of international kids that can hit the ball. We had a game plan and it worked. We are excited about playing tomorrow."

                As for WNCC they, too, improved throughout the day after a slow start in the opening match against Western Wyoming.

                "The first match we were up and down. We played a little flat but I kind of expected that coming off a big win Thursday night," he said. "The second match we played better. We talked about some things that we needed to work on. Our serving was better. Our passing was better. Our team chemistry looked better. Overall, it was two wins and we will take it."

                Against Western Wyoming, Barbara Briceno paced the Cougars with 19 kills followed by Lara Picht with nine. Joise Maldonado followed with six kills, Kaylee Spreier with five, and four from Brooke Kaawa. Spreier also had four assisted blocks.

                Defense was also strong for the Cougars against the Mustangs. Bia Berta led the way with 11 digs followed by Briceno and Genesis Benetiz-Fontantez with nine each. Kaawa added six, Lauren Shaul picked up seven, Picht with four, Maldonado with three, and Kirstee Trees with two.

                Berta also had 39 set assists along with eight points and an ace. Trees had eight points, followed by Shaul with five points and an ace, and Kaawa and Spreier each with four points.

                WNCC was even more impressive in the sweep over Seward County. Briceno and Picht each pounded down 13 kills followed by Kaawa with eight, Spreier with five, Maldonado with two, and one from Berta.

                Defensively, Trees stepped it up with 14 digs followed by Berta with 11. Spreier followed with five while Benetiz-Fontanez and Picht each had three.

                Berta finished with 33 set assists along with eight points and two aces. Kaawa added four set assists and four points. Briceno tallied five points and two aces, while Spreier had four points, and Trees three points.

                WNCC, 16-2 and winners of their last eight, will wrap up the Wyo-Braska Classic with two matches on Saturday. WNCC will meet Garden City Community College at 8 a.m. before tangling with Northwest College at 12 noon.

                Garden City took No. 18 Eastern Wyoming to five games on Friday in the Classic. EWC won 25-19, 28-30, 25-12, 17-25, 16-14. The Lancers also finished the first day unbeaten, sweeping past Lake Region in the nightcap 25-16, 25-11, 25-21.

Friday's Wyo-Braska Scores

@ WNCC

Salt Lake over NJC 22-25, 25-23, 25-22

Casper over Williston 25-23, 25-20, 25-18

WNCC over Western Wyoming 26-24, 25-21, 22-25, 25-19

LCCC over Williston 25-16, 25-13, 25-23

NJC over Casper 25-22, 14-25, 29-27, 25-21

Seward over LCCC 25-13, 22-25, 25-17, 23-25, 15-10

Salt Lake over Western Wyoming 25-17, 25-8, 25-13

WNCC over Seward County 25-18, 25-22, 25-20

@ EWC

EWC over Garden City 25-19, 28-30, 25-12, 17-25, 16-14

Northwest over Pratt 25-21, 25-27, 25-15, 25-18

Northwest over Lake Region 25-9, 25-13, 25-14

Sheridan over Garden City 25-14, 25-15, 25-12

EWC over Lake Region 25-16, 25-11, 25-21

Sheridan over Pratt 23-25, 25-22, 25-27, 25-12