T-Bird (VB) Knocks off 3rd Ranked Opponent this Season at OC Invitational

The Thunderbirds split their Saturday matches for the second straight day with a loss to No. 5 Barton and a win against No. 20 Navarro.  

Match 3

The Thunderbirds struggled in the Saturday morning match losing to Barton CC in straight sets 25-15, 25-18, 25-20.

Freshman Gabriela Rebolledo recorded a career-high six kills in her first match with the T-Birds. Deniz Akgul finished the match with six kills and five digs. 

Outside hitter Leticia Neves posted seven digs and five kills. Freshman setter Noemi Marinho registered 12 assists and libero Lauren Shiplet tallied seven digs.  Middle Elif Akarsu added five blocks.

Match 4

The Thunderbirds defeated No. 20 Navarro College for the second time this season in five sets on Saturday, Sept. 6 in the final match of the OC Invitational. 

NMJC fell behind in the match after dropping the first set 25-19. The second set was a back-and-forth affair with NMJC taking down the Bulldogs narrowly 25-23. The Thunderbirds grabbed a 2-1 lead after winning the third set 25-21. 

Navarro forced a decisive fifth set by winning the fourth set 25-21. NMJC led in the fifth set 10-9 and went on to win five of the next six points to take down the Bulldogs 15-10 and win the match.

Sophomore outside Ava Kincaid tied her career-high with 13 kills, seven digs, and five blocks. Sophomore transfer Deniz Akgul finished with a career-high 11 kills.

Freshman setter Noemi Marinho recorded her third double-double of her career posting 23 assists and 11 digs. Outside hitter Leticia Neves registered a career-high 19 digs and 15 kills. Setter Kawena Crowell added her second double-double of her career finishing with 20 assists and 12 digs.    

Defensive specialist Zuzanna Zalewska tallied 13 digs and libero Lauren Shiplet ended the match with 10 digs. Middle Duda Tonella posted a team-high seven blocks in the five-set win. 

The win over Navarro is the third ranked team NMJC has beaten this season (East WY and Navarro twice). 

The Thunderbirds will finish their non-conference slate in Sterling, CO at the Sheila Worley Tournament starting Friday, Sept. 12 against Western Nebraska CC at 12 p.m. MDT.