COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – The Eastern Wyoming College Lady Lancers hit the road for the Iowa Western Tournament over the weekend, facing three ranked teams and ending the weekend with an 0-4 record.

Iowa Western 3, EWC 0
The Lady Lancers started the weekend against the host team, Iowa Western, who is ranked third in the NJCAA. EWC was retired in three sets, dropping the first two, 25-4 and 25-7. The Lady Lancers rallied to make the third set closer, but it was not enough, as they dropped the set and contest, 25-16.
“We knew the competition was going to be extremely tough at Iowa Western,” coach Julie Sherbeyn said. “Our inexperience was evident in the first two sets against the No. 3 ranked host team.”
Lissette Lefforge had the biggest presence at the net, accounting for three kills, with Kodi Edwards and Precious Williams each adding two of their own. Williams, along with Shaniah Freeseman also had a block.
Alex Simmerman paced the Lady Lancers with seven assists,  while Kylee Tresch accounted for three. Simmerman also contributed in the defensive department, piling up three digs, just behind Lefforge and Helena Khouri, who each had four.

Jefferson County 3, EWC 0

After its opening loss, EWC took on Jefferson County out of Missouri. After dropping the first set 25-12, the Lady Lancers battled to make the second and third sets more competitive, but they still fell 25-21 and 25-19.
Lefforge again topped the chart in kills, with eight, to go along with her two aces. She shined in several categories, pacing the Lady Lancers in digs (16) and blocks (3).
Khouri tied Lefforge with her two aces and kicked in five digs for the Lady Lancers.
In the assist category, Simmerman led the way with seven, while Tresch added six, paired with seven digs in her stat line.

Indian Hills 3, EWC 1
The Lady Lancers came out Saturday with a fresh game plan and started firing on all cylinders. They snagged the first set over seventh-ranked Indian Hills, 25-22. After winning the first set, EWC found themselves outmatched, dropping the next three sets, 25-9, 25-22 and 25-19.
“We played progressively better throughout the tournament and were able to take a set from No. 7 Indian Hills,” Sherbeyn said. “Overall, it was a great experience for our team and our program to see the play needed for competition at the national level.”
The Lady Lancers had their serving going against the No. 7 team, with Tresch recording four aces and Williams adding another three. Tresch also made other contributions across the board, with 17 assists and 10 digs. Khouri paced EWC in digs, with 18, but was followed by Simmerman and Lefforge, who each had 12.
At the net, Lefforge had 10 kills, with Edwards contributing seven. Paige Vitosh and Katie Strohschein combined for 11 kills. Freeseman was a wall, with four blocks, followed by Edwards, who had three.

WNCC 3, EWC 0
Closing out the tournament, the Lady Lancers took on their rival, sixth-ranked Western Nebraska Community College. The Lady Cougars got the best of EWC, handing the Lady Lancers a three-set loss, 25-17, 25-18 and 25-18.
Lefforge continued her dominating weekend at the net, tallying  12 kills and a block, while adding seven digs to her stat line. Dawson Sharman had three kills in the contest.
Tresch accounted for two aces and eight set assists. She leading the team in digs, with 11. Simmerman topped the list in assists, with 11, and had one ace. Khouri contributed in the ace department (one) and the dig department (eight).
After starting the season against tough competition, the Lady Lancers are still looking for their first win of the season. They sit at 0-6, with an 0-2 record in the region. EWC hit the road to play WNCC on Tuesday after press time. The Lady Lancers return to their home court next Wednesday to host Northeastern Junior College at 7 p.m.