January 28, 2021
No. 15 NIACC tops No. 17 Northeast CC, 3-2
MASON CITY - The No. 15 NIACC volleyball team topped No. 17 Northeast CC 3-2 in an ICCAC match Thursday night in the NIACC gym.
NIACC (2-1 overall, 2-1 in ICCAC) won 17-25, 24-26, 25-20, 25-21, 17-15 in a rematch of last season's NJCAA Region XI-B title match.
It was the second straight match that went five games for the Lady Trojans, who dropped a 3-2 decision to No. 18 Hawkeye CC on Tuesday in Waterloo.
"This is a tough week of play for us since we have four conference matches," NIACC coach Chris Brandt said, "as well as having a few bodies that can't compete at 100% right now.
"We are so proud of the team effort (Thursday). They showed resilience and great team work. They were fierce competitors."
In the fifth and deciding game, NIACC trailed 15-14 but scored three straight points to claim the hard-fought victory.
Sophomore Becca Steffen recorded a kill to give the Lady Trojans a 16-15 lead and freshman Halsie Keltner provided the kill on match point.
Freshman Grace Tobin led the Lady Trojans with 24 kills, 12 digs and four blocks. It was the second straight match with at least 20 kills for Tobin, who had 27 kills against Hawkeye CC on Tuesday.
Keltner recorded 13 kills with 16 digs and three ace serves.
Also for the Lady Trojans, Steffen had 44 assists, 10 kills, 14 digs, four blocks and two ace serves. Megan Hollander had eight digs, four blocks and one ace serve and Bri Powers had 23 digs and seven assists.
Samantha Coron had 13 digs and six assists, Emily Wittnebel had five digs, Megan Vidmar had three kills and two digs and Emily Jacobson had six blocks and two kills.
NIACC returns to action Sunday at home against Marshalltown CC. Match time is slated for 1 p.m.
RECENT NIACC/NORTHEAST CC MATCHES
2018
Northeast CC 3, NIACC 0
Northeast CC 3, NIACC 0 (NJCAA Region XI-B championship)
2019
NIACC 3, Northeast CC 0
Northeast CC 3, NIACC 2 (NJCAA Region XI-B championship)
2021
NIACC 3, Northeast CC 2
THE LAST TIME A NIACC PLAYER ...
Had at least 20 kills in a match: 24, Grace Tobin vs. Northeast CC (1-28-21)
Had at least 40 assists in a match: 44, Becca Steffen vs. Northeast CC (1-28-21)
Has at least 25 assists in a match: 28, Becca Steffen vs. Southwestern (1-24-21)
Had at least 25 digs in a match: 28, Kayla Lentz vs. Northeast CC (11-3-19)
Had at least 20 digs in a match: 23, Bri Powers vs. Northeast CC (1-28-21)
Had at least 5 ace serves in a match: 7, Becca Steffen vs. Southwestern (1-21-21)
Had at least 5 blocks in a match: 6, Emily Jacobson vs. Northeast CC (1-28-21)
