Canton, IL - Road trips aren't always easy, and perhaps coincidentally, the MidAmerica National Bank Gym in Canton hasn't been too friendly to multiple teams at Illinois Central College. Alas, for the 12th-ranked Volleyball team (17-6, 3-0), it was not as much of a factor. The Cougars would cruise to a three-set sweep over region foe Spoon River (12-14, 2-4), with set scores of 25-12, 25-12, and 25-21. The win sets up what is perhaps not arguably a crucial match for postseason hosting when the Cougars welcome nemesis and #4-ranked Parkland to Ramsey Gym for a Pink Out on Wednesday at 6PM. 

FIRST SET RECAP (ICC, 25-12)
The scoreboard favored the Cougars pretty quickly, although not in conventional fashion. With Spoon River calling time after a 5-1 ICC advantage, three of those points had come on Snapper errors. 

A couple consecutive kills from Makenzie Pflederer put ICC ahead 7-2, but it wasn't until a Spoon River kill made it 12-5 that the hosts had gotten their own first point off something other than an error. 

The Snappers committed a service error, followed by a kill from Reagan Kelly. Another Spoon River attack error had swelled the lead to 10 points (17-7), and the Snappers would use their final timeout of the set. 

Down the set's home stretch, the front row turned on the jets, with kills from Bella Gregory, Kelley, and Pflederer all contributing to the set victory, with one of Gregory's kills ending the set. 

SECOND SET RECAP (ICC, 25-12)
The second set started more akin to a see-saw, with the set tied as last as 7-7. It certainly didn't get off to a clean start, with mostly errors being responsible for the scoring to that point. 

Despite the set's start, it would be kills on three straight points from Pflederer, Gregory, and Kelley that forced Spoon River to use its first timeout, when it seemed as if ICC was getting its momentum back. 

Out of the timeout, however, it became, at least temporarily, the Maddie Jones show. Jones' service game was critical to truly grasping that aforementioned momentum. The sophomore got aces to make it 11-7, 14-7, 15-7, 16-7, and 18-7. That adds up to five aces out of eight Cougar points. 

ICC would cruise the rest of the set, with the occasional error for the Cougars trimming the deficit somewhat until a Snapper service error put ICC ahead, two sets to none. 

THIRD SET RECAP (ICC, 25-21)
When it came time for the third set, it appeared as if the Cougars were off to their hottest start. An ace from Maris Barclay and powerful kill from Bella Gregory were just part of a 6-0 start. 

A kill from Andrea Rudolphi put the Cougars up 8-3, but from there, back came the Snappers in what may have just been their best run of the match. An ICC net violation, attack error, and Spoon River ace swung it to a three-point set at 9-6.

Errors continued to play a crucial part in the scoring margins, with one of the receiving variety on ICC getting Spoon River all the way within a point at 19-18. 

As soon as it seemed like the Snappers were close to forcing a fourth set, back to back errors put ICC back ahead 21-18 and had Spoon River using their second timeout. 

An ace from Bella Porritt put ICC ahead four points again (22-18), before an attack error from the Snappers would end the set, and thus, the match. 

COUGAR STATISTICAL LEADERS
Kills | Makenzie Pflederer (10)
Assists | Shelby Emich (24)
Digs | Kaylin Rients (18), Maddie Jones (13)
Aces | Maddie Jones (5)
Blocks | Multiple Players (1 each)

OTHER MATCH STATS
Length of First Set | 19 minutes
Length of Second Set | 19 minutes
Length of Third Set | 22 minutes
Time of Match | 1 hour, 8 minutes

SHE SAID IT - THOUGHTS FROM COACH TRACY HEFFREN
On the attacking efforts of the front row, particularly in the first set
"They were able to find the open sports on the other side, and we had some good passing. Shelby (Emich) did a good job setting them up."

On Maddie Jones' service run in the second set
"That's what we've been wanting from everyone - to go on those service runs. When we can get good, aggressive serving, then it just lifts everyone's spirits and makes it more excitable on the floor." 

On how to improve on errors from a not quite as clean third set
"Just more consistency. We should be able to play the 25 points in the third set just like we did in the first two sets. So just trying to clean up the consistency, missing first serves, first contacts, things like that. 

On the importance of being in the right headspace for a match such as Parkland on Wednesday
"We had to get through Spoon before we could even start talking about Parkland, and now we can. That's what we'll be focused on in practice tomorrow."

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
Annual "Pink Out" Match
vs. #4 Parkland Cobras (27-2, 4-0)
Wednesday, October 2nd - 6PM
at Ramsey Gym - East Peoria, IL
Watch Live (YouTube)