August 22, 2015 9:00 pm • By The Telegram Staff
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- After an 0-2 start to their season Friday, the Raiders bounced back with two wins Saturday.
The Central Community College volleyball team lost to Lincoln Land and Cowley County, before beating MCC-Longview and Kishwaukee Saturday at the Johnson County Community College kickoff Tournament in Overland Park, Kansas.
"It was a good weekend for us," Central head coach Mary Young said. "Any coach that's competitive would love to be 4-0 at this point. I felt we got better with some of our skills. This is the type of team that's going to take a bit to gel, I think. But I saw a lot of promise this weekend."
Bouncing back from their 0-2 start to the tournament and season, Central kicked off Saturday with an 18-25, 25-16, 25-19, 25-19 win over MCC_Longview.
Morgan Nikkila recorded 14 kills in the win. Payton Chohon, Amber Mazankowski and Hillary Thege each added 10 kills in the winning effort. Chohon added five blocks and three ace serves. Riley Dorn recorded 40 set assists.
The Raiders then beat Kishwaukee College 25-14, 25-13, 24-26, 25-13 for their second win of the season.
Chohon had 13 kills in the match and Nikkila added seven. Keshia Ellwanger recorded four blocks, while Chohon added three.
"Everyday we get on the court, we're going to get a little bit better," Young said. "The more time we get to know each other, we'll get to be more consistent. It's a new year and we have young players from all over and they're expected to gel together. As time goes on, we'll really fix a lot of those errors."
In their first match Friday, the Raiders lost 25-20, 25-23, 21-25, 25-21 to Lincoln Land Community College.
Chohon tallied 14 kills and two blocks, Nikkila added 14 kills and two aces and Hillary Thege had nine kills and two blocks.
"I was disappointed in our Lincoln Land loss," Young said. "We couldn't get into a rhythm. I was a little disappointed in our defensive effort at times and the ability to pass the ball. Those things are going to happen this early in the year. I was proud of how we turned around and played Cowley right away. We've only been together for a couple weeks and with the play I saw over the weekend, we have some promise."
Cowley County topped Central 18-25, 25-27, 25-21, 25-20, 15-13.
Nikkila had 25 kills in the match against Cowley County, Chohon added 17 kills and three blocks and Alyssa Thege recorded 15 digs.
"I was really pleased with a lot of our players across the board," Young said. "Morgan Nikkila had a big weekend with her kills. She didn't play in the back row last year, but she did a nice job in the back court. Hillary Thege didn't see the court much as a freshman last year and she's shown vast improvement this year. Once our defensive group settles in, we really have a lot of promise."
Central hosts McCook Wednesday.
Saturday at Overland Park, Kansas
Match 1
Central (2-2) 18 25 25 25
MCC-Longview 25 16 19 19
* KILLS: Central - Morgan Nikkila 14, Payton Chohon 10, Amber Mazankowski 10, Hillary Thege 10.
* BLOCKS: Central - Chohon 5.
* ACE SERVES: Central - Chohon 3, Alyssa Thege 2.
* ASSISTS: Central - Riley Dorn 40.
* DIGS: Central - Alyssa Thege 19, Dorn 12.
Match 2
Central 25 25 24 25
Kishwaukee 14 13 26 13
* KILLS: Central - Payton Chohon 13, Morgan Nikkila 7.
* BLOCKS: Central - Keshia Ellwanger 4, Chohon 3.
* ACE SERVES: Central - Sydney Yong 2, Riley Dorn 2, Kit Wells 2.
* ASSISTS: Central - Dorn 38.
* DIGS: Central - Wells 9.
Friday at Overland Park, Kansas
Match 1
Central 20 23 25 21
Lincoln Land 25 25 21 25
* KILLS: Central - Payton Chohon 15, Morgan Nikkila 14, Hillary Thege 9.
* BLOCKS: Central - Chohon 2, Thege 2.
* ACE SERVES: Central - Kit Wells 2, Nikkila 2.
* ASSISTS: Central - Riley Dorn 45.
* DIGS: Central - Alyssa Thege 8.
Match 2
Cowley 18 25 25 25 15
Central 25 27 21 20 13
* KILLS: Central - Morgan Nikkila 25, Payton Chohon 17, Amber Mazankowski 12.
* BLOCKS: Central - Chohon 3.
* ACE SERVES: Central - Riley Dorn 1.
* ASSISTS: Central - Dorn 52.
* DIGS: Central - Alyssa Thege 15.