sports

The first match was a too-close-for-comfort win, and the second was a tense almost-but-not-quite loss. Together, they may have unlocked the potential of a team in need of an awakening.

The Lamar Community College volleyball team played its most impressive and consistent volleyball of the young season during a 4-1 showing at the Blue Mountain Inn & Suites Invitational at Colorado Northwestern Community College in Rangely, Colorado, over the weekend.

Lopes Open Season 4-1 at Quiznos Classic

The Lamar Community College volleyball team is off to its best start since 2013 after going 4-1 at the Quiznos Classic last weekend.

The host Lopes defeated its first three opponents in straight sets before beating Cisco in five and suffering its first loss in four sets to Butler.

Lamar Community College Softball is proud to announce graduated sophomore Larissa Royer was named National Junior College Athletic Association's Third Team All-American as a utility player.

The 2017-2018 Lamar Community College men's basketball season was a positive one. The Lopes got to 20 wins and a region tournament appearance for the second straight season. Lamar's sophomore class had plenty to do with that, going 47-19 the past two years. Five of those sophomores will play on at the NCAA Division I or II level.

Lamar Community College has named former assistant coach Nolan Collins its new head coach of women's basketball.

Collins takes the helm after serving as the assistant coach for two years under former head coach Landon Steele.

"I am just proud of the journey over the last two years. It has been a lot of fun to work alongside Landon Steele, I have learned so much from him," Collins said. "I would like to keep the momentum we've had, that we've built, and just keep it going. Finish in the top half of region again like we've been doing."

Lamar Community College freshman Nate Hoey from Montrose will compete in bull riding at the College National Finals Rodeo this summer. The CNFR starts June 10 with performances and slack, and continues through June 15. The finals are held in Casper, Wyoming. 

Hoey, who finished second in the Central Rocky Mountain Region and currently sits 22^nd in the national standings, will ride June 10-12.

The Southern Plains baseball team traveled west June 24-25 to the Jim Clanton Memorial tournament held in Garden City, Kansas. The cool weather was optimum for youth baseball. The first opponent for the newly formed Southern Plains team was the Hooker Horneytoads out of Oklahoma. Starting on the mound for SP All Stars was Case Nelson. In a back and forth ballgame as time limit was quickly approaching and Southern Plains was down 7-6, Bryson Hyle reached on base hit then Spencer Uhland was walked.