Olathe, KS – The Hastings College volleyball team was looking to get back on track after dropping three straight and did just that by defeating MidAmerica Nazarene 25-23, 24-26, 26-24, 23-25, 15-9 on Saturday afternoon.
Hastings took control of set one with a 7-2 run after trailing 11-10. The run was started with an Ilse Benne kill followed by two MNU attack errors. Makenna Asher then went out to Majesta Valasek for the kill followed by another Pioneer error making it 14-11. Asher then had back-to-back kills to push the lead to five at 16-11. Then after a service error, Valasek hammered one home for the 17-12 lead.
Hastings then had to fend off a comeback attempt by MNU and Asher connected with Valasek for the kill and the 25-23 set one win.
The Lady Broncos would lose a tight set two and looked to return the favor in set three. MNU had set point at 24-23 but this time Asher went out to Nicole Haywood as she drilled the ball into the floor to tie the set. Then Grace Branson and Benne teamed up for the block to give set point back to Hastings. Valasek would not let this one slip away pikcing up the service ace to end the set 26-24 and give HC the 2-1 lead.
MidAmerica Nazarene would force a decisive set five with a 25-23 win in set four.
Hastings got off to a nice start due to three Mia Olson attack errors and a Valasek kill to take a quick 4-1 lead. The lead ballooned to five at 9-4 behind the strength of multiple kills from Benne. Hastings then got to match point at 14-7 behind two kills from Valasek and two attack errors from Olson.
MNU picked up a few points but Asher connected with Benne for the game winning kill to win set five 15-9. The Lady Bronco offense was on fire in set five hitting .533 while holding the Pioneers to .000. Hastings hit .264 for the match while MNU hit just .190.
Valasek led the way with a career high 21 kills while hitting .306. She would end up with a double-double with 12 digs. Benne added 19 kills while hitting .232. Haywood finished with six kills, Branson added five kills while Asher finished with four.
Asher finished with a season high 49 assists while getting her double-double with 12 digs as well. Miriam Miller led the team with 29 digs. Valasek and Asher led the way with two service aces each.
Hastings is now 5-3 (0-1) on the year and will be back in action Wednesday Sept. 6 hitting the road to take on No. 12 College of Saint Mary with first serve set for 7:30 pm in Omaha, NE.