LLCC's first match of the Illinois Central Invitational was against 15th ranked Sauk Valley.  As has happened sever,al times this year already, the Loggers fell behind quickly, down 1-5 and 4-10 before finding an extra gear, catching the Sky Hawks at 20-20 and then winning 25-22.  In the second game, LLCC took a quick six point lead and led 11-5 and 18-14 before Sauk Valley came back and tied the game at 22 as LLCC struggled with its serve though they righted affairs and won the game 27-25.  The third game was all Lincoln Land as the Loggers led start to finish, building a ten point lead and eventually winning 25-19.  "We really struggled with our serve.  We had two aces, but missed thirteen serves, including eight in game one.  Thankfully, Izzy Carrol and Kendall Knop had great matches passing.  We weren't aced once in the match and if you can keep swinging away, sooner or later, you have to hit some serves in, right?" Coach Dietz laughed.
 
In the following match, the Loggers took on Region XXIV rival, #12 Illinois Central and the match started in similar fashion as the earlier Sauk Valley match as a string of errors cost the Loggers.  After taking the lead 10-6 and 15-11, the Loggers made several key errors and found the game tied at 20, losing the first set 22-25.  Game two was a tight affair with neither team leading by more than two throughout.  Trailing 21-23, a bang-bang play went the Loggers way when a dug ball fell against the Cougars, giving LLCC the sideout at which point they went on a run to close out the game 25-23.  The third game saw LLCC make several errors out of the gate, trailing 6-2, but after a quick timeout, the Loggers caught the Cougars at 7-7.  At that point, LLCC was able to build a lead and hold on for a 25-20 victory behind key serves from sophomore Brook McKinney.  The fourth set saw the Loggers hold the lead from start to finish with ICC unable to come closer than 4, a 25-21 win.  "I'm a bit surprised we won, actually," Coach Dietz said.  We missed another thirteen serves and our serve-receive passing was...sketchy.  Thankfully we got some big swings from T (Talesha Scott) and Claire Reinthaler absolutely dominated the middle (10 kills on 18 swings)."  The Loggers are back in action tomorrow against Region XXIV foe Southwestern Illinois and Region IV's South Suburban College.

Game and Individual Stats:
#7 LLCC defeats #15 Sauk Valley 25-22, 27-25, 25-19
#7 LLCC defeats #12 Illinois Central 22-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-21
Next: #22 Southwestern Illinois, 11am at ICC Invitational
 
vs. SVCC
Digs: Sunderlin 18, Perinar 16
Aces: Carroll 1, Mueller 1
Blocks: Reinthaler 4, 4 tied w/1
Assists: Wienke 22, Mueller 18
Kills: Scott 16, Sunderlin 12
 
vs. ICC
Digs: Perinar 20, Carroll 17
Aces: Carroll 1, Sunderlin 1
Blocks: Ohlsen 5, Perinar 3
Assists: Mueller 19, Wienke 15
Kills: Scott 14, Reinthaler 10