VB

The Apache Ladies’ hopes for a national championship were dashed in a tough four-set loss to No. 2 Southern Idaho during Thursday’s play in the NJCAA Division I Volleyball Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas.

Tyler Junior College, seeded No. 7, saw its win streak reach 16 matches with an earlier 3-1 win on Thursday against No. 10 New Mexico Military Institute at Hutchinson Sports Arena.

Then against No. 2 Southern Idaho the Apache Ladies saw it snapped, dropping a 3-1 decision.

TJC (28-7) falls into the consolation bracket and the best the Apache Ladies can finish is fifth in the nation. The Apache Ladies will play No. 3 Polk State (Florida) (22-7) at 1:30 p.m. Friday.

Southern Idaho (29-2) will meet No. 6 Seward County (Kansas) at 6:30 p.m. Friday in the semifinals.

Seward defeated Polk State, 3-2.

In other first round matches, No. 9 Trinity Valley defeated No. 8 Mineral Area (Missouri), 3-1; and No. 4 Navarro won over No. 13 Northeastern (Colorado), 3-0.

Both TVCC and Navarro dropped quarterfinal matches late Thursday.

No. 1 Miami-Dade (Florida) defeated Trinity Valley 3-0 (25-17, 25-22, 25-23), while No. 5 Iowa Western defeated Navarro, 3-0 (25-14, 25-17, 27-25).

TVCC will play Navarro at 2:30 p.m. Friday to see who advances to meet either TJC or Polk State.

APACHE LADIES

TJC opened the day by downing NMMI 25-23, 25-15, 23-25 and 25-18.

Leaders for TJC were Taya Mitchell (14 kills, 1 ace, 6 digs, 6 blocks), Audrey Gun (13 kills, 3 digs, 2 blocks), Kariely Santana (10 kills, 1 ace, 12 digs, 6 blocks), Aya Olsen (10 kills, 3 digs, 6 blocks) and Isabela Dobra (45 assists, 1 ace, 15 digs, 2 kills).

Other standouts for TJC were Madison Frusha (7 kills, 8 blocks), Maci Matherne  (3 aces, 9 digs), Abby Olsen (11 digs) and Alissa Miramontez (13 digs, ace). Also playing were Kilee Jaynes and Breeana Gamueda.

Barbara Celar led NMMI with 44 assists and Peyton Schendt added 16 kills.

The quarterfinal match with Southern Idaho was tight throughout with the Golden Eagles prevailing 25-21, 26-28, 25-23 and 25-23.

Leaders for TJC were Mitchell (12 kills, 2 digs, 3 blocks), Gamueda (12 kills, 2 digs, 2 blocks), Santana (11 kills, 1 ace, 4 digs, block), Anya Olsen (11 kills, 1 ace, 1 dig, 1 block), Dobra (47 assists, 15 digs, 3 kills, 3 blocks) and Matherne (24 digs, 2 aces).

Also, playing were Frusha (3 kills, 4 blocks), Gun (4 kills, 1 ace, 5 digs), Abby Olsen (10 digs) and Miramontez (13 digs, 1 ace).

Airi Miyabi led CSI with 28 kills and 20 digs.

TJC is appearing in its third straight national tournament.