LLCC started Saturday taking on 11^th ranked Sauk Valley.  The Loggers came out quick behind a service run by Claire Reinthaler, taking a 8-6 lead and stretching it out to 18-7 as the Loggers went on to win 25-12.  Reinthaler did the same thing with a six point run in game two, helped by five kills by Tiffany Sunderlin and two key digs by libero Izzy Carroll as LLCC rolled 25-13.  The third game was closer as Sauk Valley, after falling behind 4-0 responded with a five point run for a 5-4 lead before a Talesha Scott kill evened the score.  Later at 10-8, Kendall Knop picked up three consecutive aces with jump serves, building a seven point lead that LLCC never relinquished for a 25-18 win and sweep of Sauk Valley.  Coach Jim Dietz commented after the first match, "We played a great match from the first point on.  We really focused on our serving and passing which were weak when we played Sauk the first time—you could see their hitters were frustrated.  Today, our defense seemed like we had a dozen players out there defending."

LLCC defeated East Central College in straight sets, 25-14, 25-15, 25-14 to finish the LLCC Invitational with a perfect 4-0 mark.  The first game's highlight was Tiffany Sunderlin breaking the career kill mark, held previously by Haley Maxwell who played in 2011 and 2012.
 
Game two saw the Loggers in a quick 0-5 whole before LLCC tied it at 11 on a block by Claire Reinthaler and Brenna Perinar.  That led to Kendall Knop scoring four quick points serving and the Loggers coasted from there, building the lead to 19-12 on a Sydney Jarrard block and winning it on an ace by Jarrard.   The third game was all Loggers as Lincoln Land built a quick lead behind an ace from Sarah Mueller and three kills from Talesha Scott as part of her match-high 16.  The seven point run built a 17-7 lead that stayed constant as the Loggers carried the rest of the game.
 
"Great weekend," Coach Dietz said afterwards.  "We got better as Friday went on, carried it over to today.  We served well and we were lights-out passing, so that we had three matches hitting .400 or better.  That is a first for us during my time here at LLCC.  I think it tells you a lot, too, that while Tiffany set the career mark, that Claire and Talesha made all tournament.  Claire hit .700 on the weekend and Talesha 'only' hit .550.  That's fabulous.  I'm excited for Tiffany setting the record, but I'm also glad we've got it out of the way—it gives us a chance now to focus fully on the scoreboard and figuring out how to improve on where we are now."  Dietz laughed, "You know coaches…we're never happy."

Game Results and Individual Stats:

#4 LLCC defeats #11 Sauk Valley 25-12, 25-13, 25-18
LLCC defeats East Central 25-14, 25-15, 25-14
 
Record: 23-4
NEXT: THU, 630pm @SWIC
 
Vs Sauk Valley
Digs: Sunderlin 13, Mueller 11
Aces: Knop 4, Reinthaler 3, Carroll 3
Blocks: Reinthaler 2, Ohlsen 2, Perinar 2
Assists: Wienke 21, Mueller 19
Kills: Scott 17, Sunderlin 14
 
Vs East Central
Digs: Carroll 10, Reinthaler 7
Aces: Mueller 2, Carroll 1, Reinthaler 1
Blocks: Reinthaler 3, Perinar 2
Assists: Mueller 30, Wienke 13
Kills: Scott 16, Perinar 8
 
    
Scott                                    Reinthaler

All-Tournament Selections:
Claire Reinthaler
Talesha Scott
 
NOTE: Against East Central, Tiffany Sunderlin set LLCC's career mark for kills, surpassing Haley Maxwell (2011-2012)'s 831.  Sunderlin now has 837 for her career.