LLCC loses to #3 Johnson County 25-18, 21-25, 18-25, 15-25
LLCC defeats Sauk Valley 18-25, 25-14, 26-24, 29-27

GAME ONE:
LLCC split in Cedar Rapids at the Kirkwood Community College Invitational on Friday.  In the first match, the Loggers came out strong in the first set and behind hitting from freshmen Sami Eaker and Kennedy Bauer were able to open a four-point lead halfway through the set that expanded to seven and the eventual 25-18 score behind great team defense.  "The first set is what we are capable of," Coach Dietz said after the match.  "So are the other sets--we have to find consistency."  The second set saw the Loggers take a 8-3 lead on the Cavaliers before two hitting errors and two net serves permitted Johnson to find its rhythm and tie the contest at 14.  Two more errors and a defensive miscommunication allowed Johnson to open a five point lead which held until the final 25-21 score.  LLCC's errors continued in the third set.  "Once you make unforced errors against top teams--and that's what Johnson is--they make you pay, they start pushing the tempo, and it builds."  LLCC made three consecutive hitting errors to open with a 0-3 gap that stayed that way going back and forth until 16-19.  At that point, forced to try and claw back, the Loggers were faced by Johnson's killer instinct and strong defense and lost 25-18.  The fourth set was all Johnson.  After they opened a 4 point lead, Lincoln Land was forced to increase its aggression which led to errors that Johnson exploited with three aces and blocks.  "The errors at the end--we were being aggressive, trying to score points," according to Dietz, "The problem is like every other sport, that if you fall behind, catching up is difficult.  The three sets we spotted them leads with our mistakes, those are the ones we lost."

GAME ONE STATS:
vs. Johnson
Digs: Bates 10, Robertson 7
Aces: Bates 3, Hill 2
Blocks:Eaker 4, Volk 4
Assists: Volk 17, Pealer 14
Kills: Bauer 11, Hill 8


GAME TWO:
LLCC turned around and immediately faced perennial Region 4 power Sauk Valley.  Coming off thefirst match, Lincoln Land came out sluggish with another run of errors.  "Every match we have those," Dietz said.  "It's frustrating because we spend a substantial amount of time in practice dedicated to things to get us a fast start.  It's been a point of emphasis this year."  The Loggers lost the first set 25-18.  The tables turned in the second set as two quick blocks by freshmen Sami Eaker and Annika Black propelled the Loggers to a 10-4 lead.  During the set, the Loggers scored seven points from blocks, leading to the 25-14 win.  In the third set, the Loggers fell behind early, down seven at 14-7 before a run of Kennedy Bauer serves brought the Loggers within two at 18-16, and several points later with defense from freshman Natalie Bates, LLCC tied it at 21, winning it on a pair of Eaker/Black blocks, 26-24.  The final set saw LLCC jump out to a big early lead, the opposite of the third with Sauk Valley roaring back to tie it at 15.  Sauk edged in front by two and held that to 24-22 before LLCC scored two to tie it at 24 and send it to extra time, eventually winning 29-27 after great hustle and extended rallies by both teams.  "Games like the last one are great if you are a fan, horrible as a coach.  I aged twenty years this afternoon," Dietz laughed afterwards.  "Worse, we'll face them a couple more time in October before all is said and done."

GAME TWO STATS:
vs. Sauk
Digs: Bates 16, Volk 14
Aces: 4 tied w/1
Blocks:Eaker 7, Melton 5, Black 5
Assists: Volk 43
Kills: Bauer 14, Hill 12, Black 11



Record: 9-3
Next: 9am vs. Central (Nebraska)