CHEYENNE, Wyo. – The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team finally captured their first win of the season with a dominating win over Western Wyoming Community College at the Region IX Crossover tourney in Cheyenne, Wyoming, on Friday.

                WNCC opened the tourney with a loss to Gillette College 25-23, 25-20, 25-20 as Dani Cruz had a double-double of 10 kills and 10 digs.

                WNCC followed that defeat with a commanding sweep of Western Wyoming 25-13, 26-24, 26-6. WNCC tallied 34 kills in the win while hitting .231. Cruz led the way with nine kills, 10 service points, and seven digs. Natalia Malinowska finished with 22 service points, five ace serves, and 24 assists.

                WNCC dominated play in the first set, running to a 12-5 lead after three service points from Kyana Gabriel. The Cougars led 17-9 on two points from Malinowska and never looked back for the 25-13 win.

                Set two was a little closer as the Cougars led 6-1 before Western Wyoming came back to tie the contest at 13-13. Western Wyoming led 23-19 but WNCC came back after a missed serve. Alex Gonzalez-Orozco then serve four points. WNCC won the second set 26-24.

                The third set saw Malinowska serve 15 straight points for a 15-0 lead and the Cougars never look back as they won 25-6 for their first win of the season.

                Cruz had nine kills followed by Keira Zelada with eight, Emma Hergenreder and Kyana Gabriel each with six, and Maria Niedzwiecka with three.

                Gonzalez-Orozco had 21 digs, seven points, and two aces.

                In the loss to Gillette, the Cougars lost the first set 25-23 after leading 17-13. WNCC then led the second set 6-4 but Gillette came back with two big service runs for a 13-8 lead. The Pronghorns won the second and third sets 25-20.

                Cruz had 10 kills, 10 digs, and four points, while Malinowska had 16 set assists, 10 points, and 16 set assists. Gonzalez-Orozco had 21 digs and two points, while Allie Twamley had eight set assists, nine digs, and four points.

                WNCC will look to continue winning ways on Saturday with two more contests in the classic. WNCC plays Northwest College at noon and then Laramie County Community College at 7 p.m.