East Peoria, Ill. - It's a series that has been going on for a number of years now, but it was time for another chapter of it, as the 13th-ranked ICC volleyball team (3-2) hosting the Illinois Wesleyan Titans (0-0) in an NJCAA vs. NCAA exhibition match. While rules do not permit the reporting of the final score, it can definitely be reported that it was quite the battle on both sides. It certainly didn't have the feel of a late-August/early-season exhibition. 

SET ONE RECAP
The first set was simply ICC's best of the match. The Cougars played nearly immaculate volleyball. Serve/receive seemed to have improved from the Lake Land match on Wednesday, and the front row had perhaps proven to be the best element of ICC's first-set performance, with next to nothing from the Titans finding its way over the net. 

An attack error from Illinois Wesleyan put the Cougars ahead and force the Titans to use their final timeout of the set. 

SET TWO RECAP
Emily Allison came up with a big swing for a kill in the set's earlier moments, but from there, the Titans seemed to have found their groove and made there adjustments. It appeared as if the match had lost a bit of its luster, but despite that, the set remained close throughout. 

SET THREE RECAP
When it came time for the third set, it definitely gave off a different vibe. ICC got off to a very good start. Now, the early lead was eventually lost into the fog of a tie and the match went right back to where it would seemingly be most of the night: back and forth. This time, it was more of a 'true' back and forth, versus one team capitalizing on the other's errors. 

In fact, Emily Cronkhite had a quality run of serves late in the set to give ICC a chance, and the set would eventually need more than 25 points to move on. 

SET FOUR RECAP
What would be the final set of the night seemed like the Cougars were off to another great run. The Titans were forced to call time trailing, but the lead would soon fade and just like the prior points of the match, back and forth it was. 

STATISTICAL LEADERS
Kills | Kaitlyn Baumann (11)
Digs | Emily Allison (23), Maris Barclay (20), Emily Cronkhite (12)
Assists | Avery Urbanski (22), Maris Barclay (18)
Blocks | Kaitlyn Baumann (8)
Aces | Emily Allison (5)

SHE SAID IT - QUOTES FROM COACH TRACY HEFFREN
On just how good that first set felt
"I thought we came out really playing well and had control of the game. So we just said 'let's carry that on to the second set'. It seemed like we came out a bit sluggish in the second set, but then we were back and forth. I don't know. We just had too many errors."

On how the third set may have felt 'better' than the second, despite playing out the same way
"I think not having as many errors (in the third set) gives you a little bit of that confidence going into the next set, knowing that if we just clean up some of those errors, we'd be fine for the next set."

On if the metaphorical 'gas tank' was running low in the fourth set
"We were up right in the middle of the set and we had talked about finishing, playing all the way through the end. I feel like we just got a little bit complacent, and then didn't push until the end."

On what it means to keep the series with Illinois Wesleyan running, regardless that it's an exhibition
"You know, she (IWU coach Kim Nelson-Brown) always has great teams, so we always know it's going to be a battle and challenging to play. This gives us a good idea of where we're at going forward." 

On how it's effectively 'no rest for the weary' headed into a quality tournament field this weekend
"Yeah. We had a good talk in the locker room afterwards, just talking about things we need to individually work on, as a team work on, and we know we have a challenge ahead of us this weekend, and we're ready for it."

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
2023 Iowa Central Tournament
@ Hodges Fieldhouse - Fort Dodge, Iowa
Friday, September 1st
vs. Central (NE) & #15 Hawkeye
3PM & 4:45 PM
WATCH LIVE*
*May not apply to non-Iowa Central matches