Volleyball: Raiders Are District Champs

The Central Community College volleyball team won the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) North Plains Championship. The Raiders hosted Bismarck (N.D,) State College in the best-of-three series at the Raider Fieldhouse.

CCC won the opening match on Friday night, 3-1. The Raiders won the first two games by the scores of 25-13 and 25-22. The Mystics avoided a shutout with a 25-13 triumph in the third set before CCC took the match with a 25-23 nail-biting victory in the fourth game.

Saturday's contest mirrored the previous match when the Raiders took the first two sets (25-21, 25-16), followed by the Mystics winning the third game, 25-21. Bismarck State evened the match with a 25-18 victory in the fourth set, forcing a fifth game. In the final set, the Raiders held off the Mystics, 15-12, to claim the district title.

"We didn't take the easy route, being up 2-0," said CCC head coach Mary Young. "We really had Bismarck where we wanted them, but we just let off the gas. They play great defense, and they have some hitters that play hard at the net and play above the net. We feel really fortunate to get the win."

The 20-15 Raiders now move on to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Nov. 20-24. CCC's opponent and opening round game day and time will be announced during the week.

"I'm just so proud of this group. I wanted them to experience the national tournament so badly," said Young. "This is incredibly special for me."