Rockford, Ill. - After a spilt yesterday, it was right back to the court for the 11th-ranked ICC Volleyball team (2-2) on Saturday, concluding another opening to a season at the McHenry County Invitational. The opening match with #6 Grand Rapids, a foe from Nationals in 2022, continued the weekend's theme of tightly contested sets - with all sets within six points. Ultimately, ICC would fall 3-1. Now, August 2022 was quite fruitful for ICC - five 3-0 sweeps. So getting the first sweep yesterday versus Mott, that run would continue in the weekend finale against Schoolcraft, with the Cougars running the table in a 3-0 win.

MATCH 1 - #6 GRAND RAPIDS 3, #11 ICC COUGARS 1 (22-25, 20-25, 25-19, 21-25)
The Raiders, at least initially, started right where they left off from 2022, taking a 2-0 lead with set wins of three and five points. Alas, ICC would fight back, winning the match's widest set by six points to extend the match and force a fifth set. It was another close one in the fourth, but this time, Grand Rapids would take it and thus the match. 

Statistical Leaders:
Kills | Hannah Tellor (10)
Assists | Maris Barclay (20), Sophie Adams (13)
Digs | Emily Cronkhite (14), Makenzie Pflederer (13)
Blocks | Jenna Ochs (2), Makenzie Pflederer (2)
Aces | Emily Cronkhite (4)

MATCH 2 - #11 ICC COUGARS 3, SCHOOLCRAFT 0 (25-13, 25-21, 25-14)
It seemed as if it were a perfect script. A closely fought loss to a top six team in the country had enough confidence instilled in the Cougars, plus made adjustments. That turns into a 3-0 sweep to wrap up the weekend's schedule. Outside of a four-point win in the second set, the first and third set wins by 12 and 11 points, respectively, were the Cougars' first sets won by 10 or more points in 2023. 

Statistical Leaders:
Kills | Makenzie Pflederer (13)
Assists | Maris Barclay (21), Avery Urbanski (11)
Digs | Emily Cronkhite (14), Makenzie Pflederer (10)
Blocks | Makenzie Pflederer (3)
Aces | Maris Barclay (2)

COME ONE, COME ALL - HOME OPENER IS NEXT
With the season's first tournament now complete, the Cougars stay put at the confines of Ramsey Gym next week, which includes the 2023 Home Opener against Lake Land on Wednesday, August 23rd. Last season, ICC won a five-set thriller in Mattoon: 25-23, 25-22, 20-25, 22-25, 17-15. First serve of this year's meeting is set for 6PM on Wednesday. 

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