Champaign, IL - The 13th-ranked Illinois Central College Volleyball team (16-7 Overall, 4-1 Region 24) were on the road for a matchup of nationally-ranked Region 24 rivals, with the sixth-ranked Parkland Cobras (30-3 Overall, 7-1 Region 24) on the other side. The Cougars came out strong by taking the opening set, but the host Cobras regrouped to win the next three sets and claim a 3-1 decision on Wednesday at the Dodds Athletic Complex. 

SET ONE | #13 COUGARS 25, #6 PARKLAND 19
Parkland's front row looked sharp early, but ICC shook off its slow start behind the play of Andrea Rudolphi, who was effective on both the left and in the middle. A solo block from Karis Wolfe and a service run from Bella Gregory gave the Cougars their first lead and a jolt of energy. Whitney Rumbold's ace extended the margin to 16-10, and a Rudolphi kill pushed it up to 19-15. Gregory cpaped off the set with a block at set point, lifting ICC to a 25-19 win. 

SET TWO | #6 PARKLAND 25, #13 COUGARS 21
The Cougars again started well, sparked by an Ellie Dallas service run, but the Cobras worked their way into the lead by the middle stages. Gregory's kill tied the score at 14-14, and a Parkland error pulled ICC even at 20-20. However, serve-receive would become crucial late, with the Cobras closing strong to take it 25-21 and even the match at one set apiece.

SET THREE | #6 PARKLAND 25, #13 COUGARS 10
Parkland carried its momentum into the third set, seizing control early and forcing ICC to burn both timeouts in quick succession. The Cougars weren't able to find their rhythm in serve-recieve, and the Cobras took a 25-10 set win and the 2-1 match advantage. 

SET FOUR | #6 PARKLAND 25, #13 COUGARS 23
The final set proved to be the closest of the night. Ellie Dallas landed an ace to push ICC ahead 6-4, and kills from Reagan Kelley and Maggye Smith kept the Cougars in front through the middle stages. Wolfe's kill and a Gregory ace made it 20-18 in favor of ICC, but Parkland clawed back to even the score at 20. With errors mounting on both sides, the Cobras inched ahead 24-22. ICC fought back within one at 24-23 after a Parkland miscue, but an attack error ended the rally and sealed the match for Parkland, 25-23.

COUGAR STATISTICAL LEADERS
Kills | Andrea Rudolphi (12), Bella Gregory (8)
Assists | Allison De Freese (21), Ellie Dallas (11)
Digs | Whitney Rumbold (25), Sadie Siwicke (15), Allison De Freese (10), Ellie Dallas (10)
Aces | Ellie Dallas (2), Bella Gregory (2)
Blocks | Bella Gregory (4), Karis Wolfe (3), Jessi Rokey (3)

SHE SAID IT - QUOTES FROM COACH TRACY HEFFREN
On how close the match felt despite the one set won
"Oh, yeah. It was back and forth. Besides the third set, I thought we played very well. Too many errors there at the end, and that's what cost us the match." 

On working towards consistency with the errors
That's what we've been working on. Hopefully it will come soon."

On the efforts of the front row, their own skills coupled with capitalizing on Parkland receive errors
"I thought the front row did well tonight. I think we were out of system a lot, and we just couldn't score out of our own system."

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
There won't be much of a turnaround for the Cougars, as they face another fierce battle on Saturday afternoon, welcoming the third-ranked Heartland Hawks to Ramsey Gym. The Cougars and Hawks have squared off in some classic matches over the past couple years, especially in the postseason. Heartland comes in looking to avenge three District Championship losses at Ramsey Gym, while the Hawks are the last team to stop ICC short of a District Title, having done so during the Fall 2021 season. 

vs. #3 Heartland Hawks (22-2 Overall, 7-0 Region 24)
Saturday, October 4th - 5:30 PM CST First Serve
at Ramsey Gym - East Peoria, Illinois
Watch Live (HUDL TV)