WEST PLAINS, Texas — NMMI (7-5) really wanted to close out the Grizzly Invitational with a sweep of both Hutchinson Community College and the host MSU-West Plains Grizzlies, but while they easily got the first win, West Plains proved more problematic.

NMMI 3, Hutchinson CC 0

The Broncos knew Hutchinson wouldn't be an easy team to play, but they made it look that way with a 25-20, 25-19, 25-13 clean sweep in the first match.

Unlike previous matches this season, NMMI started a bit slow, letting the Dragons go up 4-0 before getting their first point.  But the Institute kept chipping away, tying the game at 5-5, 9-9 and 14-14. Hutch never trailed up to that point, and led 17-15 late. But that was their last edge, as the Broncos pulled ahead 20-17 and allowed no more Dragon offensive points, taking the game 25-20.

Hutch couldn't put anything together in Game 2, with only four runs of two-points, and one string of three. The Dragons did stop some NMMI runs, getting points on defense, but it was far too little, as NMMI took a 25-19 victory. 

Game 3 was all Broncos, even though Hutch tried to keep it close.

The Dragons went up 2-0 then 5-2, but NMMI slowly closed the gap, taking an 8-7 lead and never again looking back. Leading 14-13, they went on a 10-point run on service from Julia Johnson to close to within one point of victory, then took the victory on a Dragon serve into the net.

Offensively, the Broncos continued to get solid kill, led by Johnson with 11 and Marian Ovalle with seven. Vittoria Price had six; Kasia Niderla five and Dana Manu and Heleine Felipe four each. Johnson had four serving aces; Ovalle two and Price one.

MSU-West Plains 3, NMMI 1

The Institute started their match vs. the host Grizzlies (5-3) like they ended up vs. Hutch: strong.

After trading side outs for a few points, with solid kills and a tip, NMMI went on a six point run on serves from Niderla, including a pair of aces, to go up 9-4. West Plains battled, picking up points with a four-serve run and several two-point efforts.

The host finally went up 16-15 after a long volley that ended up having the call questioned, but the Broncos came right back. Johnson served for four straight — helped by some solid kills — and never trailed again, getting a 25-20 victory.

Game two was close, with several ties early, but after the Grizzlies went up 11-8, the never lost the momentum, holding on for a 25-19 win.

And Game 3 was all West Plains, as they used four long runs to stretch their lead, winning 25-13.

Game 4 started out close, with a half dozen ties breaking close leads by both sides. But what looked like a mental error on defense after good serves by Darcy Dodd seemed to shut the Broncos down.

MSU went up 19-14 in two good serving runs, then despite NMMI forcing back and forth side outs, held on for a 25-19 game and match victory.

The Broncos are finally home for a few days before heading back to Texas Feb. 13 in a conference opener against Odessa.