WEST PLAINS, Mo. — The Bronco volleyball team improved their early-season record to 6-4 with a pair of wins on the opening day of the Grizzly Invitational at Missouri State University, West Plains, Friday.
The Institute took a three-game set from Jefferson College (1-4) to open the day, winning 25-19, 25-15, 26-24. NMMI then struggled just a bit in the afternoon matchup, but still topped Trinity Valley Community College (1-6) 25-15, 25-15, 20-25, 25-17.
Head coach Shelby Forchtner said despite some ups and downs, overall the team played better than they had in recent weeks.
"I felt there were glimpses of some really good stuff going on," she said. "I feel like we're getting into a little bit of a rhythm. We still have some things that we need to work through. We've still got some trust issues with some easy plays that we kind of make look harder because we don't trust the person is going to be there and do their job effectively every single ball. So I think if we can work through some of that stuff over the next few weeks, heading into conference, it would actually make a big difference. We've got a lot of offensive firepower and do some really good things, but we've just got to become more disciplined blockers and defenders."
Similar to past weeks, the Institute started well, then slowed a bit as each match progressed.
"Honestly, this team is a little like a rollercoaster," Forchtner said. "Every team we've played, we started off really strong and beat people in the first set pretty easily. Then we kind of get in this position where we play not-to-lose instead of to win.'
Against the Vikings, that didn't really show until Game 3, when the Broncos had to hang on at the end to eke out a 26-24 victory.
Versus the Cardinals, after tying it at 3-3 in Game 1, NMMI never trailed again. Game 2 was a little closer early, with ties at 4-4, 8-8 and 9-9, but then the Institute again pulled away, getting an ace from Tiffinay Gauspohl for the 24th point and a kill by Katarzyna Niderla to seal the win.
But Game 3 saw the Broncos trail 13-12 and never quite catch back up, despite some long volleys and back and forth side outs on both sides.
That meant a Game 4, but NMMI started strong and never trailed in the game to seal the victory.
Overall, Forchtner was happy with the team's offensive stats.
"Honestly, if you look at the stats everybody did well offensively," she said. "It was just our defense struggled at times, and that's blocking and actual defenders."
Middle hitters Vittoria Price and Niderla "stepped up and played well," with Price tallying 20 kills for the two matches and Niderla 12.
Forchtner was also pleased with Heleine Filipe and Dana Manu.
"Both really stepped up today and played well," she said.
Felipe had 10 kills and Manu nine. Others who had strong stats included Julia Johnson, who had 18 kills and three aces, and Marian Ovalle, who had 16 kills.
Saturday's matches will be tougher, as the Broncos will get a repeat match with the host Grizzlies then face always tough Hutchinson.
"Obviously, we really want to get the win back from West Plains," the coach said. We played really well against them in the first set (at the NMMI Classic) then played real inconsistent (falling in five.)"
"Both teams tomorrow are going to be pretty athletic, quick teams that we've got to be a little bit faster and a little bit better in serve receive. I feel like if we can just handle our business, we can do that."
The Broncos then head home for the first time in three weeks, which Forchtner said will be a welcome change.
"I think there's a lot of people out there who have this thought, 'Oh! They're on the road and they're having a great time!' But it's just not the case," she said. "I think the kids are kind of excited to get back to school."