LLCC defeats Lewis & Clark 28-30, 23-25, 25-13, 25-18, 15-7
LLCC defeats John Wood 25-15, 28-26, 25-22

LLCC won both matches at the MWAC Volleyball Tournament to finish the 2019 season second in the conference.  

GAME ONE:
In the first match, LLCC was led by Kate Volk's 20 digs and 54 assists and a balanced attack that saw four different hitters finish with thirteen or fourteen kills.  "I don't have much of a play-by-play on the match," Coach Dietz stated.  "We did some bad, bad stuff in the first two sets and we're lucky we picked up a win.  In the first set, we coughed up a couple dozen unforced errors and then in the second, Lewis & Clark just came out and took it to us.  The 25-23 score doesn't show how we were dominated."  The Loggers came back to win 25-13 in the third behind aggressive serving by Mary Hill and took the fourth 25-18 behind good team blocking and key kills from Ashley Melton.  In the fifth set, LLCC built a quick 8-3 lead, expanding it with an ace by Molly Ashbaugh to make it 10-3.  LLCC went on to win 15-7.

NOTE: Kate Volk's 54 assists is tied for sixth-highest ever in an LLCC match.  It was her second 50+ assist match of the season.  Only Lainey Jackson (2017-18) and Taylor Harper (2012-13) had more 50+ assist matches in their careers.

GAME TWO:
LLCC had to turn around and immediately take on last Tuesday's foe, John Wood.  LLCC took a quick 6-3 lead on multiple kills by Ashley Melton and Mary Hill.  After the two teams traded errors, kills from Sami Eaker reopened a lead for the Loggers to 14-10.  At 15-11, Molly Ashbaugh provided an extended serving run that opened the margin to 20-11.  Unable to close the distance on LLCC, John Wood went down on a kill from Mary Hill, 25-15.  In the second set, LLCC squandered two separate four-point leads and an eight-point one.  The first four pointer opened with kills from Melton and Hill in what looked like a repeat of the first set before.  John Wood closed it to 8-7 before a Sami Eaker serving run took it to 15-7.  John Wood again closed the gape to 16-15 before LLCC opened it to 20-16.  It still wasn't over as LLCC errors permitted John Wood to catch LLCC at 23.  The two teams exchanged points until a JWCC ball-handling error gave Lincoln Land a 28-26 win.  In the final set, LLCC was forced to play catch-up, falling behind by six as John Wood's hitters found holes in the Logger defense.  At 7-13, Logger libero Natale Bates was injured, forcing an emergency substitution and the end of her day.  "I was worried for Natalie when she got hurt," Jim Dietz said afterwards.  "She's a tough kid, so having her on the floor not willing to stand up is scary.  I'm glad she's okay.  We were able to sub in Julia Richardson who immediately took over.  She had a great set--played hard.  John Wood came at her right away, she made two or three good plays in a row, and that helped us get over the shock of the situation."   Richardson helped LLCC tie the set at 19 with an ace and followed it two serves later with a second ace and a 21-19 lead.  That proved decisive and one server later, LLCC was able to win the contest on an Eaker-Hill double block.  The win puts the Logger season record at 24-11.


Record: 24-11
Next: FRI @ LLCC October Tournament

GAME ON STATS:
vs. Lewis&Clark
Digs: Volk 20, Bates 16
Aces: Bauer 3, Hill 2
Blocks: Melton 4, Bauer 4
Assists: Volk 54
Kills: Black 14, Hill 13, Melton 13

GAME TWO STATS:
vs. John Wood
Digs: Bauer 28, Volk 15
Aces: Roberston 2, Hill 1, Eaker 1
Blocks: Volk 2, Eaker 2, Melton 2
Assists: Volk 42
Kills: Hill 13, Bauer 10

Volk's 54 assists vs. Lewis & Clark is her second 50+ total for the season and is tied for the sixth highest ever in a match for LLCC.