August 29, 2015 7:00 pm • By The Telegram Staff

NORFOLK -- The Raiders traveled up the road to the Northeast Community College Tournament and came back with three wins and one loss Friday and Saturday.

The Central Community College volleyball team improves to 6-3 on the season.

"I thought our team turned a big corner today with our unity and energy," Raiders head coach Mary Young said. "We're a team that will get better the more time we spend with one another. We're really beginning to grow together as a team, and that's really important."

The Raiders opened the tournament with a 25-17, 25-20, 22-25, 25-17 win over Iowa Lakes Community College.

Next up was a five-set battle with Fort Scott that the Raiders lost, 18-25, 25-14, 25-22, 23-25, 17-15. The loss was the second five-set loss of the season.

"It was a good weekend overall for us," Young said. "We lost another close one in the fifth set, and you want to win all of those. At some point, that experience will serve us well."

The Raiders moved on to sweep Lake Region Community College 25-9, 25-9, 25-17, before sweeping North Dakota State College of Science 25-16, 25-16, 25-20.

Payton Chohon led the team with a weekend total of 46 kills, and Morgan Nikkila added 38 kills to go along with 6 aces. Keshia Ellwanger had 21 kills and Hillary Thege had 15.

Keely Woods had 34 kills and 14 blocks. Young said she was impressed with Woods' emergence.

"I thought Keely Woods had a great weekend and she made great strides with her hitting and blocking," Young said. "You can see that she's getting more comfortable in the hitting position after being a setter before in her career. I thought she played very well for us."

Alyssa Thege and Sydney Yong combined for 61 digs in a back line, defensive effort that also left an impression on Young.

"Our back court is giving a great defensive effort," she said. "We have some gritty back-row players with Kit Wells, Sydney Yong and Alyssa Thege. Those three are working hard on getting us playable balls and putting our hitters in a good position."

The Raiders are facing perhaps their biggest test of the season thus far, a road matchup Wednesday with National Junior College Athletic Association, No. 1 Iowa Western Community College.

"It's always a big matchup and Iowa Western is ranked high," Young said. "It's a tough place to play and they're always good. It will be a real challenge. It's great timing, and you only get better by playing good competition."

Saturday at NECC Tournament Match 1

Central 25 25 22 25

Iowa Lakes 17 20 25 17

Match 2

Fort Scott 18 25 25 23 17

Central 25 14 22 25 15

Match 3

Central 25 25 25

Lake Region 9 9 17

Match 4

Central (6-3) 25 25 25

NDSCS 16 16 20

Tournament Totals

* KILLS: Central - Payton Chohon 46, Morgan Nikkila 38, Keely Woods 34, Hillary Thege 15, Keshia Ellwanger 21.

* BLOCKS: Central - Keely Woods 14.

* ACE SERVES: Central - Alyssa Thege 3, Morgan Nikkila 6.

* ASSISTS: Central - Riley Dorn 163.

* DIGS: Central -Alyssa Thege 34, Sydney Yong 27.