LLCC advanced to the NJCAA National Tournament with a clean three-set sweep of #20 Illinois Central College 25-18, 25-16, 25-20.

In the first set, LLCC trailed 5-4 when Jakya Pealer went back to serve for the first time in the match, picking up two quick aces to give the Loggers the lead.  At that point, things fell into place as Molly Tauke crushed an overpass to extend the lead to 12-7 while a series of Maree Taig/Erika Miller blocks opened it to 17-10 before 4 consecutive LLCC unforced errors closed it to three before a Cougar service error broke the streak at which point Kiley Brunstein put down three kills including an overpass to go to 20-14.  After that, it was Olivia Dour's turn to put down multiple kills including the game-winning tip.

In the second set, the Loggers built a quick lead behind Kiley Brunstein crushing another Cougar overpass to 7-3, widened to 16-10 behind ICC errors caused by tough serves by Pealer once again.  A Taylor Thomas ace fell home for 18-11 before the two sides essentially alternated points to 24-16 before a Cougar swing into the net gave the Loggers a two-set lead.

In the deciding set, LLCC struck fast with a quick 7-4 lead, but missed serves hit the Loggers and with two Cougar kills added in, the score wound up tied at 10 with ICC pressuring Lincoln Land into four more errors, building a 16-12 lead that made a fourth set seem possible.  For the Loggers, Delaney Edwards came in with two aces and a dig that proved a decisive spark and a 17-all tie when she was done.  The back and forth continued until LLCC picked up Jakya Pealer's career-high fifth ace to take the lead 20-19.  That proved decisive with Taylor Thomas finishing the match with an ace that struck the net and trickled over.  With the win, the Logger volleyball squad becomes the first sports team at LLCC to qualify for Nationals in four consecutive years.

"It was a bit stressful there in the middle of the third set," Coach Dietz said afterwards.  "I thought the big thing today was that we stuck to things as a team.  We had a player with a family situation on her mind, a couple just coming back from injuries, and they came up big.  Delaney [Edwards]'s serving was the turning point in the third set.  I don't think ICC was expecting a sub to come in and just fire bullets at them.  Now, we'll take a couple days off before we get going again--alive to play two more weeks.  I love it!!"

Their next game will be at Nationals in West Virginia on November 15th. 

Record: 28-11

MATCH STATS:
Digs: Tauke 16, Marusic 13
Aces: Pealer 5, Thomas 2
Kills: Brunstein 19, Miller 10
Blocks:  Dour 4, Miller 2, Brunstein 2
Assists: Jackson 41