TORRINGTON – The Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) Lady Lancers volleyball team once again demonstrated the ability to rebound from a setback to win a 3-1 conference victory against Gillette College at home on Saturday, September 28.

Gillette won a neck-and-neck first set by three points, 25-22. 

EWC battled back to turn the tables in the second set. Kills by freshmen Annika Cantrell and Una Stepic tied the set at six. The Lady Lancers took control of the scoreboard at seven and widened their lead, 14-8, with kills from Stepic, sophomore Belle Dolan and fellow sophomore Siala Unufe.

A pair of kills by freshman Amarie Huntsman placed EWC up, 16-9. Sophomore Emma Blackstar set the ball over the net for 17. The Lady Lancers remained ahead with blocks by Cantrell, Huntsman and freshman Adisyn Rollins.

Unufe and Dolan spiked kills for 22 and 23, respectively. Another kill by Unufe resulted in game point, 25-17.

The Lady Lancers maintained their momentum into the third set. Following a tie at four in the second set, the Lady Lancers regained the lead, 6-4, with a pair of aces from Unufe.

Blackstar and freshman Mina Milivojevic both delivered a kill and Unufe aced a serve. Milivojevic powered over another kill and sophomore Baylor Rodgers scored an ace. 

Two kills by Cantrell pulled EWC up, 19-13. Dolan and Milivojevic reached up for a block and the Lady Lancers reached 24. A kill by Dolan resulted in game point, 25-16.

The lead changed hands several times early in the fourth set before EWC took charge. Gillette College pulled into the lead, 8-7. Unufe responded with a block and tied the set at eight.

Dolan and Unufe followed with a kill apiece and Blackstar aced a serve. Blocks by Unufe and Dolan kept the Lady Lancers ahead, 15-12.

Huntsman widened EWC’s lead, 21-12. Dolan slammed over a kill, Unufe aced a serve and Huntsman fired off a kill to place the Lady Lancers up, 24-14.

Gillette managed to score before Cantrell responded with a kill for game point, 25-15.

Dolan set the pace for the EWC offense against Gillette with 17 kills. Stepic contributed 11 kills with nine apiece by Unufe and Huntsman.

Unufe aced four serves while Blackstar and Dolan both served up two aces.

Sophomore Boden Liljedahl played libero and tallied 16 digs. Blackstar served as setter and delivered 31 assists.

On defense, Unufe posted six blocks with four from Dolan.

The Lady Lancers host Northwest College on Friday, October 4, followed by a home game against Central Wyoming on Saturday. Coach George Hamilton is aiming to post his 400th career victory if the Lady Lancers win both games on Friday and Saturday.