TORRINGTON – The Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) Lady Lancers battled back from an early setback in an epic, five-set match against Laramie County Community College (LCCC) to defeat the Lady Eagles, 3-2, on Tuesday, September 24.

The Lady Lancers’ victory marked EWC’s first conference win for the 2024-2024 season.

The first set between EWC and LCCC ended with the Lady Eagles ahead by a considerable 25-12 margin. 

Undeterred, EWC began its comeback in a much closer second set ultimately won by LCCC, 25-21.

The Lady Eagles led early in the third set, 5-1, before sending the ball out of bounds or into the net several times.

Freshman Una Stepic slammed over a kill and tied the third set at eight. LCCC went on a four-point run. EWC responded with kills by Stepic and freshman Annika Cantrell. 

Sophomore Siala Unufe reached up for a block, resulting in another tie at 12. 

LCCC pulled ahead with a three-point run and remained up through 23, although EWC kept the score close with kills by Stepic, Unufe and freshman Amarie Huntsman.

Unufe powered over a kill, narrowing LCCC’s lead to a single point, 23-22. Sophomore Emma Blackstar aced a serve and EWC matched LCCC in scoring, 23-23. A block by Unufe placed the Lady Lancers up, 24-23.

The set deadlocked at 24 when LCCC scored a kill. Unufe answered back with a kill, followed by a block for game point, 26-24.

The Lady Eagles found themselves up early in the fourth set by nine points, 13-4.

EWC fought back with kills by Stepic, Unufe and sophomore Julia Dolan and deep digs by sophomore Boden Liljedahl and freshman Vladana Ristic to close the gap to two points, 15-13.

Dolan fired off a pair of kills and Blackstar set over a point. LCCC tangled with the net returning a serve by sophomore Neeley Rutledge and EWC tied the set, 17-17.

The Lady Lancers pulled ahead, 21-18, with three kills by Dolan. Huntsman widened EWC’s lead, 23-20, by powering over a kill. LCCC sent the ball out responding to a serve by sophomore Baylor Rodgers. Cantrell scored game point, 25-20, with a kill, assisted by Rodgers.

Leaving it all on the court in the winner-takes-all fifth set, the Lady Lancers dominated the scoreboard from the opening point to game point. Huntsman, Dolan and Stepic each fired off a kill. Rodgers set over a point and Cantrell blocked a hit by LCCC. 

Unufe spiked a kill for game point, 15-7, assisted by Rodgers.

Stats

Stepic set the pace for the Lady Lancers on offense with 17 kills. Huntsman contributed 12 kills, Dolan 11, Unufe six, Cantrell four with two from Rodgers.

On the service line, Unufe tallied three aces, Blackstar two plus one apiece by Liljedahl and Rutledge. 

Blackstar played setter and delivered 31 assists over five sets. Liljedahl covered the floor as libero and totaled 23 digs. 

Blackstar also contributed 17 digs with 10 apiece by Rodgers and Ristic.

On defense, Unufe led EWC with six blocks. Freshman Adisyn Rollins posted four blocks, Cantrell three and Stepic and Dolan two each.

Conference play continues for the Lady Lancers with a match against Gillette College on Saturday, September 28. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.

EWC hosts Northwest College on October 4 at 6 p.m.