Peter Dindinger – NMMI Sports Press

ODESSA, Texas — On the final day of the NMMI Classic, the Bronco volleyball team split their two matches Saturday at the Odessa College Sports Center.

In the first match, NMMI notched its victory of the season with the sweep of Vernon College 25-10, 25-14, 25-17.

The Broncos battled Missouri State University-West Plains to five sets during the final match, but they didn't finish strong as they suffered the loss 25-21, 12-25, 26-24, 23-25, 18-16.

NMMI showed solid play in the match versus Vernon as it began with a 10-point lead early in the first set before quickly increasing the score to 23-8.

The second set was similar as the Broncos continued their consistency taking a 15-9 lead before capturing the win by 11 points.

Vernon did not want to go down quietly in the final set.

There were four different lead changes during the middle of the game. Not once did Vernon ever lead in the entire match.

NMMI eventually pulled away by eight to take the set and match.

In the final match against MSU-West Plains, the Broncos were engaged in seven ties in the opening set before the Grizzlies closed out on a 4-1 run to take the set.

The Broncos showed plenty of high energy in the second set after freshman Darcy Dodd picked up two points on a pair of back-to-back service aces to give NMMI a seven-point lead.

After a kill by NMMI sophomore Vittoria Price, the lead increased to nine. NMMI finished on a 7-2 run to even up the match.

NMMI scored six unanswered points to begin the third set. Trailing by four in the middle of the game, MSU-West Plains battled back to tie the match at 18-all.

It was a back-and-forth battle that featured some intense volleys. The Broncos held a 24-23 lead late in the set but the Grizzlies clawed their way to tie up the score and finish on a 2-0 run to capture the win.

Down 2-1 in the match, the Broncos fought through nine different lead changes before pulling away late in the fourth set to send the match into a deciding fifth game.

The whole match had plenty of momentum swings. The score had been tied nine separate times, four of which occurred towards the end.

NMMI overcame a four-point deficit however the Grizzlies prevailed late in the set, 18-16, to take the match.

Up next, the Broncos will remain in west Texas for the Wrangler Volleyball Classic from Thursday-Saturday at Odessa College before traveling to West Plains, Mo., for the two-day Grizzly Invitational.

Day 2 scores

Navarro def. College of Southern Idaho (20-25, 25-20, 21-25, 25-20, 15-11)

MSU-West Plains def. Vernon (25-18, 25-23, 25-21)

Snow College def. Navarro (25-15, 17-25, 25-19, 25-16)

Odessa College def. CSI (25-23, 25-22, 27-25)

Snow College def. Odessa College (26-28, 25-17, 25-19, 26-24)

Final standings

Snow (4-0)

Odessa (3-1)

Navarro (2-2)

CSI (2-2)

MSU-West Plains (2-2)

NMMI (1-3)

Vernon (0-4)