East Peoria, IL - The eighth-ranked Illinois Central College Volleyball team (4-2) wrapped up a three-match homestand on Saturday afternoon by hosting the Hawkeye RedTails (5-3) of Region 11 membership at Ramsey Gym. The Cougars, coming off a season-high 58 kills Thursday, were able to take the match against the RedTails, who were less than 24 hours removed from a 3-0 loss at #3 Heartland on Friday night. Behind a first set spark, and the efforts of players like Bella Gregory and Andrea Rudolphi out of the front row, the Cougars secured the win for their second 3-1 victory of the week; 25-10, 26-28, 25-16, 26-24. 

SET ONE | #8 ICC 25, HAWKEYE 10
The Cougars pushed out to as much as a 6-1 lead via consecutive blocks from Bella Gregory, then a block error by the RedTails forced them to call a timeout at that five-point margin. 

A pair of kills from the middle by Jessi Rokey and an ace from Ellie Dallas had the Cougars feeling good, leading 11-3. 

ICC's front row defense was especially key to this set, allowing few if any clear attacks from the Hawkeye front row. 

It would really feel like the Cougars had started to pull away when Reagan Kelley got consecutive kills to lead 17-5. 

The RedTails had a series of errors late in the set that played a key role, but it was ICC's errors that put Hawkeye on a 4-1 run before an ace from Whitney Rumbold ended the set. 

SET TWO | HAWKEYE 28, #8 ICC 26
At the start of the second set, there were certainly flashes that Hawkeye had made their adjustments during the set break. That, coupled with the Cougars needing to correct receiving errors, allowed the RedTails to take their first multi-point lead at 8-6. 

The lead would swell slightly to three points before a Gregory kill and a Hawkeye attack error tied the set up at 12 apiece. 

Then, Hawkeye would begin to pull away again, leading by three on four other occasions, the latest being at 21-18, which forced coach Tracy Heffren to use a timeout. 

The RedTails were able to increase that lead even moreso, getting up to a four-point gap at 22-18, 23-19, and 24-20. 

Yet despite it being set point, three straight attack errors had the Cougars within a point (24-23). Jessi Rokey would leap up for a big block to tie the set up. Andrea Rudolphi got a kill to tie the set at 25 and force the set beyond its traditional 25.

However, the RedTails would out-score ICC 3-1 to end the set. 

SET THREE | #8 ICC 25, HAWKEYE 16
The Cougars got off to a good start, with another Rudolphi kill giving the Cougars a 7-3 advantage. Despite the lead, the RedTails slipped through ICC's receiving efforts, getting it back to a 1-2 point set.

Gregory had a tip kill that made it 12-11, and it was Allison deFreese who dug it over to Rudolphi for a big kill from the left side to go ahead 17-15. 

ICC was slowly grabbing more momentum, when another Gregory kill made it 20-15, and had the RedTails calling timeout. 

Rudolphi then got up for a block on that same left side to end the set with a nine-point spread. 

SET FOUR | #8 ICC 26, HAWKEYE 24
It seemed as if the Cougars got off to a red-hot start in the fourth set, with a Rudolphi kill equaling a 5-1 beginning and another RedTail timeout. Yet Hawkeye would creep back into the set and once again, back and forth this one went. 

It was a RedTail attack error that put ICC ahead 20-17. Gregory had a pair of kills that made it 21-19 and 23-20, but Hawkeye, yet again, worked it back to a closer set. 

Ultimately, it was Kailey Ciesielski who closed the door on the match. The Cougars, not wanting to give Hawkeye a fifth set opportunity, knowing how close of a match this had become, got a kill (24-24) and ace (25-24) from the freshman before a RedTail attack error ended the match and gave ICC the victory. 

SHE SAID IT - QUOTES FROM COACH TRACY HEFFREN
On pre-match prep knowing Hawkeye's match with #3 Heartland on Friday
"Yeah, I mentioned to the team that they (Hawkeye) had just played two matches at Heartland, and they went 1-1. It just prepared them to be ready to go. They were a good team then and it showed today." 

On first set's front row defensive efforts keying the 25-10 win
"I think we came out very aggressive and ready to play. We had a really good first set." 

On how the receiving efforts may have slipped away somewhat at and beyond Set Two
"I think we came out a little flat in the second set. Hawkeye, I give them credit, they were able to get better passes than they did the first set. They were able to run a little bit quicker tempo, and we didn't adjust to that." 

On the fight in the fourth set, including Ciesielski's finish to the set/match herself
"Kailey stepped up and was able to serve really aggressively. She doesn't normally serve, but we were running out of subs, it was one of those rotations where she needed to stay in." 

On if fourth set momentum grab had to do with not wanting to afford Hawkeye a fifth set, knowing how close the match was
"Yeah, we definitely wanted to finish in four. They're a team that just hangs around." 

COUGAR STATISTICAL LEADERS
Kills | Andrea Rudolphi (12), Bella Gregory (11), Kailey Ciesielski (10)
Digs | Sadie Siwicke (18), Andrea Rudolphi (15), Whitney Rumbold (13)
Assists | Allison deFreese (30), Ellie Dallas (10)
Blocks | Andrea Rudolphi (3), Jessi Rokey (3), Bella Gregory (3)
Aces | 4 Players with 1 Ace Each

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
@ Danville Area (3-4 Overall, 0-1 Region 24)
Wednesday, September 3rd - 6:00 PM First Serve
at Mary Miller Gym - Danville, Illinois
Watch Live (Hudl VCloud)