NIACC's Brandt collects 200th career win

ROCHESTER, Minn. - History was made Friday night in the Regional Sports Center.

NIACC volleyball coach Chris Brandt collected her 200th career win as the Trojans stopped Harper College 3-2 in their second match at the RCTC Yellowjacket Invitational. The Trojans won 17-25, 25-22, 25-21, 13-25, 15-12.

NIACC dropped a 3-0 decision to Ellsworth in its first match on Friday. The Panthers won 25-12, 25-21, 25-15.

"It's already been an emotional season," Brandt, who is in her 14th season, said moments after claiming her 200th career win. "Honestly, I'm just happy for the success that we're having right now, especially with the roller coaster ride we've been with injuries and some unique stuff that we've been dealing with since Aug. 1.

"I will take all of the successes that we are having any day and any chance we get to have success. I will gladly take it."

Brandt said her 200 career wins have been made up of "amazing young people that I still have contact with."

"Luckily, we are in an age of social media where I can still keep track of their lives and spouses that they've become and the little babies that I see," Brandt said. "There have been some amazing souls that have come through NIACC volleyball in the years that I've been the head coach and even when I was volunteering for a couple of years.

"It's been amazing to think about that."

In Friday's two matches at the Yellowjacket Invitational, sophomore Jaida Hansen had 21 kills, seven blocks and six digs. Sophomore Kennedy Scwiesow had 47 digs, four assists and two ace serves.

NIACC's Alicia Machacek had 15 kills, four digs and four blocks, Iwalani Beltran had 41 assists, 15 digs, four ace serves, two kills and two blocks and Emily Opstvedt had 18 assists, 13 digs and one ace serve.

Also for the Trojans, Abbie Hyde had 15 digs and two ace serves, Addison Tabbert had eight kills, 24 digs, one ace serve and one block, Kelly Miller had six kills, five digs and two blocks, Ellie Hanna had nine kills, six digs and three blocks, Kit Byars had 11 blocks, four kills and two digs and Zhane Singer had three kills and three blocks.

"We started the day a little rough trying to work through a couple of new lineups," Brandt said. "Our first match, we didn't settle into things the way we needed but by the second match, we started playing much better and with more confidence.

"Our play was calmer and that allowed things to happen naturally. We are proud of the team for their efforts to keep pushing hard and working on their 'one ball at a time' mentality."

On Saturday, NIACC (6-7 overall) face host RCTC at 10 a.m. and Iowa Lakes at 2 p.m.