COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Facing very tough NCAA Division III competition, the Nebraska Wesleyan volleyball team started the 2018 season with a pair of losses on day one of the Colorado College Classic in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Friday (Aug. 31). 
 
NWU dropped their opening match 3-0 to University of St. Thomas, then dropped another 3-0 match to the host school and 3^rd-ranked Colorado College on Friday night.
 
In the opening match, St. Thomas controlled the first two sets before the Prairie Wolves responded and built up a lead in set three.  NWU led 17-12 and maintained that lead all the way up to a 23-20 advantage.  The Prairie Wolves had set point at 24-23, but an attack error tied the set at 24-24.
 
NWU had another set point at 26-25, this time St. Thomas responded with a kill to tie it up.  From there, UST was able to get three more kills to eventually earn the 29-27 win.
 
As a team the Prairie Wolves hit only .045 with 30 kills and 25 errors.  Kierra Harder led the way with seven kills.  Cassidy Plooster dished out 18 assists and Lizzie Saale had 12 digs.   
 
St. Thomas, which was the top team receiving votes in the preseason top 25 poll, had 45 kills and a .327 hitting percentage.
 
Third-ranked Colorado College proved to be even a more formidable opponent for the Prairie Wolves winning in scored of 25-12, 25-16, 25-17.
 
Nebraska Wesleyan had only 19 kills with 19 errors for a .000 hitting percentage.  Harder led the way again with nine kills to go along with six digs.  She was the only player with more than three kills.  Plooster dished out 15 assists.  Saale and Cera Craven both reached double digits in digs.
 
The Prairie Wolves will play two more matches at the Classic on Saturday.