Springfield, Ill. - Wednesday's match for #7 ICC Volleyball (28-10) had all the makings of a perfect setup. Jockeying for the ability to host postseason, riding a winning streak. A quality opponent in the Lincoln Land Loggers (26-14), receiving votes in the latest poll, stood in their way. No sets were decided by more than six points, but ICC was able to rebound from a first set loss to win in four. 

WOOD BURNING EARLY
Lincoln Land got off to a hot start, running the match's first five points, capped by a kill for a 5-0 set lead. ICC would be forced to call time for an early regrouping. Gracie Schultz got a kill for the Cougars' first point of the set, but they were down 5-1 at that point. 

The Cougars' receive seemed to not be running 'normally', and that led the Loggers to be the first to both 10 and 15 points. It wasn't until a net violation by the hosts gave ICC their 10th point. 

Late in the set, perhaps ICC had some life breathed into them, when Hannah Tellor and McKinley Daniels lept up for a double block, bringing the Cougars within 17-12 and forcing a Lincoln Land timeout. 

It wasn't for a lack of fighting back. Emily Allison got a kill and an ace on consecutive points to pull ICC to a 21-18 deficit. From there, however, the Loggers shut the door. A kill from Lincoln Land found a seam on the block for a 25-20 set win. 

BOUNCING BACK
It certainly was a much better start in the second set. A kill from Hope Allen gave ICC its first lead of the match at 4-3. From there, no momentum was truly grabbed onto by either team. 

That was, until midway through the set. An ace gave Lincoln Land a 14-11 lead.

Back came the Cougars. Hannah Tellor launched a kill to give ICC the lead back, capping a 4-0 run for a 15-14 score. Tellor got to a solo block for a 21-16 lead and a Logger timeout. 

A kill from Emily Allison put the Cougars on set point, before an attack error from the Loggers forced a set split, 25-19. 

SEE-SAW SET
ICC found themselves on their first 'true' run of the match to start the third, rolling off an 8-3 lead, sparked by the serving of Emily Cronkhite. 

The spark seemed to fade. A close in/out call off an attempted block could perhaps be pointed to as maybe not the primary benefactor, but at least the starting point. Lincoln Land out-scored the Cougars 12-5 over the next 17 points to take the lead at 15-14.

A key late moment saw Gracie Schultz power a kill down to the floor for a 23-21 set lead. Emily Cronkhite followed that up with a great dig, which set up a net violation by the Loggers for a 24-23 ICC lead. Hope Allen found the open court for a kill and a 26-24 set win.

DOOR SHUT
It was the blocking of the Cougars' that was rolling in the fourth. A block from Gracie Schultz just stayed in for a 14-8 lead and a Lincoln Land timeout. 

The set was pretty well dormant from that point. ICC wasn't increasing their lead, and Lincoln Land was getting points on the board, but not making it any closer. 

A kill from Gracie Schultz put ICC ahead 23-19. The Loggers put a last breath of stress into the match to make it 24-20, but Raquel Frakes would put a kill down for a 25-20 set win and the match. 

STATISTICAL LEADERS
Kills | Hope Allen (13)
Digs | Emily Cronkhite (30)
Assists | McKinley Daniels (26), Hope Allen (14)
Blocks | Hannah Tellor (6)
Aces | Emily Cronkhite (2)

SHE SAID IT - QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH TRACY HEFFREN
On the slow start to the first set
"Yeah we came out flat, and they came out high-energy. 

On what role a kill from Hannah Tellor that made it 15-14 in S2 played:
"When you get a big kill like that, it gives you momentum on your side of the net. We just needed one thing like that to get us going."

On the blocking efforts
"We finally figured out the timing of the block. They have some really good hitters."

On hosting Districts with the win
"It's very exciting. Hosting districts is always a huge thing. We're not finished yet."
WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
Jefferson College Triangular
vs. D1 #10 Missouri State-West Plains & @ Jefferson College
@ Jo Ellen Stringer Court - Hillsboro, Missouri
10AM & 12PM First Serves
Watch Live (JeffCo Match Only)