Broncbusters top Eastern Wyoming in season opener

Garden City, KS-Tola Maczka started right where she left off last season. 

The sophomore posted 42 assists, Apolline Lepuissant had 15 kills, and Garden City topped Eastern Wyoming in four sets, 25-17, 25-19, 24-26, and 25-13 Friday afternoon at Conestoga Arena. 

After coasting to victories in the first two sets, the Broncbusters ran into some trouble in the third. An attack error, a pair of aces, and a kill by by Siale Unufe had Eastern Wyoming up 5-1. Eventually, the Lancers built a seven-point cushion before Garden City rallied back to tie it at 23 on the heels of Lepuissant's emphatic kill that landed just inside the right boundary. But the Broncbusters couldn't finish the deal. Sydney Anderson rejected a pair of Julia Brazil attacks late in the frame, and Eastern Wyoming forced a fourth set. 

Patrick Hiltz's team though responded in the fourth. 

The Broncbusters broke open an 8-8 tie with a 15-4 run, highlighted by Abigail Lightner's block that gave Garden City a 22-12 advantage. Lepuissant added a powerful spike down the middle, and Trinity Valley transfer, Pinar Dugeroglu powered home match point.