The Eastern Wyoming College volleyball team completed its second undefeated weekend of the season at Sheridan College's tournament Sept. 6-7.
The Lancers (9-2) swept Rocky Mountain JV, Dawson Community College and Colorado Northwestern Community College, and beat Miles City Community College in five sets.
"It was a good weekend for us, but for reasons beyond the 4-0 record," EWC head coach Dante Geoffrey said. "We were able to, and in some instances had to, play a mix of lineups and still the job done. Everyone got opportunity to play and to try new things, new plays, that will help us in region play."
Roster depth and balance carried the Lancers to two Saturday sweeps when injuries sidelined outside hitter Vanja Pržulj and middle blocker Janaya Sims. Geoffrey said freshmen Alyssa Parmelee and Emma Larsen stepped up and the team didn't miss a beat.
"We do our best to be smart and prevent injuries, but they're inevitable and we know that when they happen we have a team full of capable players ready to step up or change roles to help the team," Geoffrey said.
Parmelee had nine kills and two blocks in EWC's 25-15, 25-16, 25-21 win against Dawson Saturday morning. She added another seven kills in a 25-8, 25-19, 25-14 afternoon victory against Colorado Northwestern.
Pržulj made an impact on Friday, totaling 14 kills, seven aces and 15 digs in six sets against Rocky and Miles City.
Sophomore Charlène Hosly tied for the game-high in kills with nine against Rocky, followed by eight from sophomore Tina Betham. Sophomore Lexi Trowbridge led the offense with 21 assists while freshman Vittoria Cacciavillani had 10. Freshman libero J'Adore Hayes had a game-high nine digs as the Lancers won 26-24, 25-13, 25-12.
EWC dug themselves an 0-2 hole against Miles Friday evening before finding their fight to pull off a 21-25, 23-25, 25-15, 25-19, 15-7 comeback.
The fifth set was tied at 7-7 when Hayes' serve — including two aces — paved the way to eight straight points.
Hosly led the Lancers with 17 kills, 11 digs and three aces. Freshman middle Lauren Feierabend had 13 kills and a .423 hitting percentage. Betham and Parmelee also hit double-digit kills with 10 apiece.
Freshman setter Devyn Volz had a team-best 24 assists as well as four digs. Sophomore libero Peyton Greeson led the Lancers with 17 digs.
"That game really showcased the Jekyll and Hyde nature of this team in the early part of the season. This was us at our best and worst," Geoffrey said. "We came out flat, lifeless, lazy. It was unacceptable. And then, when the threat could no longer be ignored we turned it on and pretty much cruised for three sets. We need to take the pride necessary to play like that from the first serve. That's my job, to get us motivated and ready, and I need to be better."
