East Peoria, IL - The sixth-ranked Illinois Central College volleyball team (3-3) had a tough match on their hands on Saturday afternoon, with a familiar foe in the ninth-ranked Kirkwood Eagles (5-1) coming to Ramsey Gym for a stand-alone match. It was certainly a hotly contested, back-and-forth battle, but the Eagles would ultimately use a fourth set surge and despite ICC holding match point at one point in the fourth, also took the fifth set momentum to capture the match in its maximum length. 

FIRST SET | KIRKWOOD 25, COUGARS 22
If the start to the match was any indication, this would not be a smooth-flowing, one-sided affair. The two teams tussled for any momentum they could get. A Kirkwood attack error would give ICC a seemingly large 12-9 lead. Shelby Emich would then set it back over on the second contact, and the Eagles were able to get no more than a pass into the side of the net's frame and a 13-9 lead advantage, sending the Eagles to their first timeout. 

Kirkwood would get a kill from the edge of the left side to take an 18-17 lead. Meanwhile, the Cougars would be called for a double contact, and in a set where ICC had the momentum initially, it was now the Eagles that had become the first team to 20 points, forcing an ICC timeout. The trend continued, with Kirkwood's lead swelling to as much as 24-17. On set point, the Cougars battled, going on a 5-0 run capped by Kenzie Pflederer getting up for a block on the left side to pull within 24-22, but the Eagles would end the set on the next point. 

SECOND SET | COUGARS 25, KIRKWOOD 17 
The Cougars' starting libero Maddie Jones was part of multiple good service runs in the match, but it was specifically an ace of hers that had ICC off to a 4-0 start. The service game continued to be a positive for ICC, with Maris Barclay forcing an error by the Eagles and their first timeout of the set, with ICC already ahead 7-1.

Kirkwood found their way back into it, with a kill tying the set up at 9-9, making that a 8-2 run by the visitors. Another ace from Jones put the Cougars in a rejuvenated mood, up four at the time (15-11). An error on the return for Kirkwood sailed into the bleachers and at 16-11, the Eagles would call time once again. 

A right side attack from Pflederer went up into the rafters of Ramsey Gym, and confusion on the Kirkwood side awaited, and the ball fell to the court, making ICC the first team to 20 at 20-15. 

Emich setting it over on the second contact plus an Eagle attack error gave the Cougars an eight-point set victory. 

THIRD SET | COUGARS 25, KIRKWOOD 22
Back-and-forth volleyball returned in the third. Neither team led by more than two points until an ICC attack error put Kirkwood ahead 6-3. Kaylin Rients rolled one over and found the open court for a 6-6 tie. 

Kirkwood would begin to pull away somewhat, with an error by the Cougars on the receive extended an Eagle lead to 14-11, and ICC would elect to regroup. Bella Gregory got up for a block in the middle to get back to another tie, this time at 16-16. 

Barclay was able to lay out and get to an Eagle attack, with Emich soon setting it over and outside of a light contact, it would find the open court for a 20-18 lead. The rest of the set, though, was yet more of a see-saw. Kirkwood pulled within 22-21, but an Eagle service error, attack error, and Pflederer kill put ICC one set away from taking the match. 

FOURTH SET | KIRKWOOD 27, COUGARS 25
Gregory and Reagan Kelley would protect the right side and get a block to hold a slim 11-9 lead. That being said, enough momentum from the Cougars was enough for Kirkwood to pull the trigger on an early timeout, especially with the Eagles not having a set to play with. 

It was still anyone's set, but an Emich kill made ICC the first team to 20 points (20-19). Kirkwood, however, countered with a 3-2 out-scoring of ICC, enough to tie it at 22.

Kelley had enough power behind an attack of hers that the Eagle return would sail ever so slightly over the end line and put the Cougars one measly point away from winning the match - the lead was 24-23. 

The pressure of being on the wrong side of a match point was not too much for the opposition, with a 4-1 run ending the set and forcing a fifth. 

FIFTH SET | KIRKWOOD 15, COUGARS 12
Pflederer would get a kill to draw first blood in the match-deciding set, but the Eagles were still riding the vibes from their finish to the fourth, with an ICC attack error increasing the Eagle lead to 7-3, and with the fifth set being first to 15, pending margin, the Cougars needed to call a timeout. 

With odds not in their favor, it was ICC's turn to make a run at it, pulling all the way within 8-7 on a Reints threading her attack through the block. The Cougars would even take a lead (10-9) by way of a Reints ace, but the Eagles themselves had one last bull rush left in them too. 

Kirkwood would out-score ICC the rest of the match 5-3, and subsequently take a five-set match that did not lack any excitement. 

OTHER MATCH NOTES
- Shelby Emich, as the Cougars setter, had a .438 hitting percentage. 
- Maddie Jones' seven service aces are the team's season high

#9 KIRKWOOD 3, #6 ICC COUGARS 2
Kills | Makenzie Pflederer (19), Kaylin Rients (11)
Assists | Shelby Emich (45)
Digs | Maddie Jones (22), Kaylin Rients (18), Makenzie Pflederer (15), Maris Barclay (12), Shelby Emich (11)
Aces | Maddie Jones (7)
Blocks | Brooke Ladd (2)

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
Iowa Central Tournament
vs. Hawkeye RedTails (0-4)
Friday, September 6th - 3:15 PM
Hodges Fieldhouse - Fort Dodge, IA
Watch Live (YouTube)