MASON CITY, IOWA -- The Ellsworth CC Panthers improved their season record to 23-4 by winning 3 of 4 matches at a tournament hosted by NIACC.  ECC took care of Western Iowa Tech in 5 sets (22-25, 25-18, 25-16, 22-25, 15-11) and Iowa Lakes in 3 sets (25-19, 25-16, 25-15), then lost to Hawkeye CC in another 5-setter (25-15, 17-25, 25-22, 16-25, 15-12) before downing NIACC 3-1 (25-11, 25-23, 20-25, 25-22).

Against WIT, the Panthers got 16 kills from Manon Morillon (who hit .316) and 10 from Ana Clara Cuartero.  Dallymar Panell and Elitsa Peneva shared the setter duties and Panell recorded 31 assists and Peneva 18.  The Panthers served up 9 aces, including 2 each by Ludine Charron, Panell and Cuartero.  There were 101 digs, led by Charron with 25 and Sofia Betteni with 22.  Cuartero had 15 and Panell 14.  Natalie See had 5 blocks.

In the Iowa Lakes match, the statistical leaders were Betteni with 8 kills, Panell with 21 assists, Betteni with 17 digs and Charron with 5 ace serves.

Four ECC players registered double figures in kills against Hawkeye CC, Betteni led with 13, Cuartero had 12, See 11 and Morillon 10.  See hit .474.  Panell was credited with 30 assists and Morillon with 3 aces.  The Panthers piled up a season-high 105 digs.  Charron topped ECC with 26, Betteni had 22, Panell 20 and Cuartero 16.

The win over NIACC was the 3rd of the season for Ellsworth.  Morillon pounded 13 kills and Cuartero 10.  Panell and Peneva combined for 37 assists, 20 of them by Panell.  Panell was strong from behind the service line with 8 aces and Charron had 4.  Charron had a season-best 34 digs and Morillon added 19.

The Panthers will travel to take on Iowa Lakes on Tuesday night.