Galesburg, Ill. - After a couple days of tournament play, it was time for the ICC Volleyball program (2-2) to make the short drive west on I-74 to take on the Carl Sandburg Chargers on Wednesday. While the match saw multiple potential momentum-grabbing moments, the Cougars just couldn't pull away and would fall in a three-set sweep to the hosts.
SET 1: CHARGERS 25, COUGARS 20
Carl Sandburg (3-4) would have the match's first serve, and take a 3-0 lead in the set before the Cougars would crack the scoreboard. A kill from
Sophie Adams gave ICC it's first 'true' point, not via an error committed by the Chargers.
Hope Allen would get her first kill of the match to put ICC ahead 9-8 in the first set. That lead would stay put when
Emily Allison added a kill of her own to keep ICC in front, 11-10. That would be the Cougars' last lead of the opener. Rest assured, the Cougars kept it close. Great runs at the net by both
Gracie Schultz and
Hannah Tellor kept ICC within a mere couple of points. The Chargers, however, wound up as the first team to 25, taking the opening set, 25-20.
SET 2: CHARGERS 25, COUGARS 17
The Cougars often try to break the match into five-point increments each set. Breaking that down in the case of the second set, the Cougars just missed being the first to each tier. Trailing by one when the Chargers got to 10, by four when the Chargers got to 15, and by five when the Chargers got to 20. The difference with set two saw ICC make the most out of errors committed by Carl Sandburg. Of what would become 17 points by the second set's end, nine (53%) would be off Charger errors.
ICC would tack on seven kills in the second set, all of which from the efforts of newcomers.
Kaitlyn Baumann and
Emily Allison both were responsible for consecutive kills. The Cougars would get within 17-14 on a
Sophie Adams kill, but the Chargers hung tough and took the set by an eight-point margin.
SET 3: CHARGERS 26, COUGARS 24
Gracie Schultz stole the show early in the set, with her kills being the way ICC would get its first three points of the set, the latter having the Cougars down 4-3. The first ICC lead (at 10-9) would come on an ace from
Tess Smith, a stat that would come into play later as well.
Schultz would repeat her efforts from the earlier moments of the set with another kill, this one putting ICC within 19-18. On the doorstep of being swept, the Cougars hadn't backed down yet. From there, a critical ace from Smith tied the set at 23-23. An attack error by the Chargers would require the set's winner to total over 25 points. When the time came, the Chargers shut the door to take a two-point set lead, and subsequently, the match.
SHE SAID IT: QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH TRACY HEFFREN
The Cougars had the two late plays from both Schultz and Smith that prompted belief in a potential to come back and win the match. Coach
Tracy Heffren attributes the ultimate fizzling out to a few aspects of the team's play, while also accrediting the efforts of the opposition.
"Our passing broke down. They're a very scrappy team - give them credit. You have to find a way to score, and we were unable to do that."
Region 24 is split into two districts for the postseason tournament. It's extremely competitive, with the Cougars having to duel with team such as #1 Parkland and #7 Heartland for the right to host their half of the District Tournament. Often times, the seeding that determines such has come down to a mere match or two. In the end, every match matters, and Coach Heffren agrees.
"Oh, yeah. It was talked about tonight. We have three in-region matches this weekend. They're very important. We can't look past these teams."
A four-match homestand provides the opportunity to regroup. Heffren, now in her fourth season with the program, is looking to emphasize unity in the Cougars' prep for the critical weekend series.
"We need to start playing together as a team. We've tried several different lineups, and we're still trying to find that right gel. We have a lot of options, which is so nice."
BONUS: FLY, FLY, FLY AWAY
Wednesday's match saw a unique element come into play before the match could even begin. While the Cougars and Chargers were warming up, a bat was spotted in the rafters of Lewis Gym. The mammal would proceed to creep its way around the premises, even dipping down to court-level mid-warmups. Thankfully for all involved, Carl Sandburg staff was able to remove the bat within roughly 10 minutes of its discovery.
"I've got to say, I've never seen a bat in a gym before," Coach Heffren added. As for it being during warmups? "We just dealt with it, and hopefully the girls were focused, because they seemed to not let it bother them."
The 2022 Cougars debut at Ramsey Gym with four matches this weekend as part of two separate Tri-Matches, starting Friday afternoon.
Statistical Leaders @ Carl Sandburg:
Kills |
Gracie Schultz (9),
Emily Allison (7)
Digs |
Emily Cronkhite (15)
Assists |
McKinley Daniels (15),
Hope Allen (12)
Blocks |
Sophie Adams (3),
Kaitlyn Baumann (2)
Aces |
Tess Smith (2),
Emily Allison (1),
Hope Allen (1)
Up Next:
Friday, August 26th
vs. Lincoln Trail & Lewis & Clark
@ Ramsey Gym - East Peoria
2PM & 6PM First Serves
Watch Live
