Rockford, Ill. - After successful alumni scrimmages and a road exhibition match, it was finally time to get the regular season going for the ICC Volleyball team (1-1). The Cougars, ranked 11th in the NJCAA's preseason poll for Division II, opened up their season with a tightly contested four-set loss to Madison before avenging that with a sweep of Mott. 

MATCH #1 | MADISON 3, #11 ICC 1 (25-22, 32-34, 22-25, 22-25)
The Cougars got going with perhaps as exciting a match as a loss could be. ICC was right with the Wolfpack, with no set being decided by more than three points. Among that was quite the 'overtime' of a second set, with Madison and the Cougars battling beyond the 30-point mark. 

Statistical Leaders:
Kills | Emily Allison (16), Makenzie Pflederer (10)
Assists | Maris Barclay (21), Sophie Adams (14)
Digs | Emily Cronkhite (36), Makenzie Pflederer (17), Emily Allison (15), Hannah Tellor (13)
Blocks | Kaitlyn Baumann (4)
Aces | Emily Cronkhite (4)

MATCH #2 | #11 ICC 3, MOTT 0 (25-21, 25-19, 29-27)
ICC had a time slot off before the focus turned to the Mott Bears to wrap up the day. Perhaps to no surprise, at least as a theme of the day, it was another hotly contested battle. Yes, it also featured an 'overtime' set as well, when the Cougars edged the Bears 29-27 in the eventual match finale. 

Statistical Leaders:
Kills | Emily Allison (9), Makenzie Pflederer (8)
Assists | Maris Barclay (17), Sophie Adams (11)
Digs | Emily Cronkhite (14), Makenzie Pflederer (11), Hannah Tellor (10)
Blocks | Hannah Tellor (4)

WHAT'S UP NEXT?
The Cougars conclude play at the McHenry County Invitational tomorrow with no shortage of excitement on tap. ICC will get right to work at 9AM with a match against #6 Grand Rapids, who the Cougars fell in five sets to in the opening round of the 2022 National Tournament. Their weekend ends with a 1PM match with the Schoolcraft Ocelots out of Livonia, Michigan. 

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