SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah, for the Crystal Innviational and competed against four Florida teams.

                While the team competed with the four teams including No. 1 Florida Southwestern State College, the Cougars finished the tournament 0-4 despite strong performances from several players.

                WNCC opened play on Friday against Hillsborough Community College and fell in four sets 25-18, 25-13, 23-25, 29-27 behind a 13-kill performance from Kyana Gabriel (Hilo, Hawaii) and a 31-dig outing from Alex Gonzalez-Orozco (Gering, Nebraska).

                The Cougars followed that up with a match-up against Eastern Florida State College and fell in straight sets 25-19, 25-18, 25-21 behind six kills from Keira Zelada (Lima, Peru).

                On Saturday, the Cougars opened against No. 1 Florida Southwestern State College, who is coached by former WNCC assistant coach Cesar Benatti, and gave the top-ranked team all they handle before falling 25-13, 25-13, 25-19 in sets that were closer than the final score.

                In that match, Gabriel tallied 10 kills while Natalia Malinowska (Warsaw, Poland) had five points.

                WNCC finished the tournament with a close 3-set loss to No. 15 Daytona State College falling 25-11, 27-25, 25-18 behind a 7-kill performance from Dani Cruz (Guadalajara, Mexico) and 14 kills and five service points from Gonzalez-Orozco.

                WNCC will look to get on the winning track when they have a road trip to Casper, Wyoming, on Tuesday to face Casper College followed a weekend trip to Cheyenne for the Region IX Challenge in facing Gillette College, Western Wyoming Community College, Northwest College, and Laramie County Community College.