Marshalltown, IA -

LLCC won both of its final two matches on Saturday to win the Marshalltown Invitational.   In the first match again Southwestern Iowa, the Loggers got out to a quick 13-4 lead behind the netplay of Breanne Cunningham with LLCC holding on to the long lead with several kills by freshman Brooke Soebbing as the score ended 25-12.  Aces by Izzy Carroll started game two rolling and after a block by Addie Patton and a kill by Cunningham, the Loggers were up 10-0, a lead which remained double-digits for the remainder of the game.  The third set was closer as Lincoln Land used a variety of players, but still led the whole way, winning by a final score of 25-20. "While I was happy with some individual performances and glad for us to start seeing Addie back out on the court, I thought we were very sluggish, even if the scores don't show that.  The big credit is the hitting of the freshmen, Addie, Kiersten, and Brooke.  Between them they had twenty kills on thirty swings--that's outrageous."

The final match was slated to be the best of the tournament with LLCC facing undefeated D-1 ranked opponent Indian Hills Community College.  In the first game, LLCC came out fast with blocking from Cunningham and Anderson to build a 7-3 lead, but the Indians were able to tie it at 15.  The two teams traded point for point until the end when LLCC was able to squeeze out a 25-22 win.  "I called a TO," Coach Dietz said, "and mentioned that we had to keep the ball in, that they don't make errors.  At 20-20, they'd made one unforced error for the whole set.  They had a run of three of them right then and there."  LLCC fell behind quickly in the second game as Indian Hills responded, building a 10-3 lead though LLC clawed back to 19-21, but unforced errors coming after all four of the set's timeouts cost LLCC dearly.
 
The third game was back and forth throughout until Summer Sabo took over, putting down three of her eleven kills, a variety of shots that left the Loggers' opponents visibly frustrated on the court.  This meant a 25-22 victory for LLCC heading in to the fourth game.  Lincoln Land came out fast and even after an Indian Hills quick timeout, built a 8-1 lead, but the Indians responded tying the game at 13 after a bookkeeping error.  The Loggers were unfazed winning seven of the next nine points to build a 20-15 lead, again helped by Summer Sabo and two clutch kills by Kaylee Beekman.  LCC then closed out a 25-19 victory.
 
"The funny thing is, it's the small things which won us the match.  In game three, Sydney Jarrard came in for the last two points for her blocking and it totally befuzzled Indian Hill's outside hitter, took her right out of the game and got us the win.  Game Four--Brea Cunningham played a tip that had just been open for them, gave us a chance to run our offense and cut of a string of points before it got started.  Little things can pay off and did so today."
 

Game Results:
LLCC defeats Southwestern Iowa 25-12, 25-12, 25-20
LLCC defeats D1 #13 Indian Hills 25-22, 21-25, 25-22, 26-18
Record: 14-2, Region: 2-0
Next: WED, 6pm @ Lewis & Clark
 
Vs. Southwestern Iowa
 
Digs: Knop 10, Carroll 9
Aces: Carroll 3, Hennings 1
Blocks: Patton 3, Cunningham 3
Assists: Phillips 21, Anderson 10
Kills: Anderson 9, 3 tied with 7
 
Vs. Indian Hills
 
Digs: Carroll 18, Knop 11
Aces: Carroll 6, Beekman 2, Knop 2
Blocks: Sabo 4, Cunningham 4
Assists: Mueller 27, Anderson 26
Kills: Scott 14, Sabo 11, Beekman 9