(Hastings, NE) – Playing their first game since their 4-0 Hastings College Classic games, the Broncos continued their winning ways, defeating Doane in 3 sets (25-20, 25-18, 26-24) to extend their winning streak to five.
The Broncos set the tone early by winning the first four points, which included three kills. They maintained a firm lead throughout the opening set to take it 25-18. Ilse Benne had five kills and junior Alexis Pontine had 13 assists in the first set.
With Hastings leading 14-13 in the second set, the Broncos won the next five points to give themselves the momentum they needed to take a 2-0 set lead, as they pulled out the second set 25-18. Freshman Mikah O’Neill‘s four kills and Pontine’s 11 assists keyed the Bronco surge.
In the third, Doane set the tone by jumping out to a 8-4 lead. Hastings would grind its way back into it, tying it up at 10 and would get its first lead of the set at 16-15. Doane was resilient until the end, fending off a couple of match points to make it 24-all. The Broncos would win the next two points as Pontine delivered a kill off of a dig and assist from senior Miriam Miller, then Benne shut the door with a kill.
Benne led the way in kills with 13, with O’Neill the freshman from Sumner a close second with 10. Miller’s 25 digs were a game-high, as was Pontine’s 39 assists.
Hastings will play a couple of games in McPherson, KS on Saturday, September 7th in the McPherson Sport Center. They will open with a matchup against McPherson at 11am, followed by MidAmerica Nazarene at 1pm.
