Number two ranked LLCC opened against #11(?) at the Johnson County Comm. College opening tournament in a match that did not start as Coach Dietz and the Loggers hoped as three straight runs of four unforced hitting errors gave Cowley strings of points en route to a 30-28 win.  An Izzy Carroll serving run in game two righted the ship in game two, giving the Loggers a 25-21 win.  In game three, the Loggers fell behind again due to errors, trailing 19-12 before Addie Patton hosted a Block Party with Kiersten Anderson, blocking three straight attacks and rallying the Loggers to a 25-22 win. Game Four went to LLCC as well as the Tigers of Cowley could not stop Talesha Scott on the outside, who tied the LLCC record for kills in a match (23). 
 
"That first game, I'll tell you...," sighed Coach Dietz. "Runs of errors kill me and we know better, so it was frustrating.  In the end, I think it was some freshmen nerves. it's a good thing Talesha and Addie had a great match hitting, and I don't think it shows in the stats, but Kaylee Beekman had a great game with the unseen stuff--serve-receive passing, placing serves.

"Bar none, that's the longest rally-score match I've been part of," Coach Dietz said after the end of an epic 2 hour,42 minute marathon with Johnson County.  "At least it was a great match throughout.  Of course, it is easier to say that when you win, too."  #2 LLCC defeated #3 Johnson County in a rematch of last year's NJCAA Elite Eight matchup, winning 22-25, 26-24, 13-25, 26-24, 17-15.  "I told Coach Ei afterwards--it was as if the two teams picked up right where we left off against one another in November."
 
The first two games were back and forth throughout and Johnson's three point victory in the game was the largest lead either team enjoyed in that contest.  "The third game--that was a bit of a stinker," Dietz said, as Johnson County caught fire, pummeling the Loggers with blocks, aces, and kills.  "That game's why they are the elite D-2 program in Kansas."  Game four was another nailbiter.  Game five saw LLCC trailing 8-6 when the teams switched sides, but after catching Johnson at 10, the two teams traded points up to 15-15, until finally LLCC was able to win on a JCC hitting error.
 
Game Stats:
#2 LLCC defeats #11 Cowley 28-30, 25-21, 25-22, 25-20
#2 LLCC defeats #3 Johnson County CC  22-25, 26-24, 13-25, 26-24, 17-15
Record: 2-0
Next: SAT 9am vs. #9 Central Nebraska, 11am vs. Missouri-Longview
 
vs Cowley
Kills   Scott 23*, Patton 13
Blocks  Cunningham 1, Patton 1
Assists  Mueller 36, Anderson 18
Digs  Beekman 19, Carroll 15
Aces  Anderson 3, Mueller 2, Knop 2
 
*Ties single-match record
 
v. JCC
Kills   Patton 12, Anderson 10
Blocks  Scott 2, 4 tied w/1
Assists  Mueller 25, Anderson 21
Digs  Carroll 27, Knop 17
Aces  4 tied w/1