(Sugar Grove, IL) - After dropping the opening game Waubonsee Community College's women's volleyball team rallied to take the next three games to upset visiting Sauk Valley Community College. The Skyhawks, who entered the evening ranked 17th nationally in the latest NJCAA Division II poll, appeared on their way to another victory after taking the opening game 25-22 and grabbing an early 5-0 lead in game two. However, Coach Steve Kish's Chiefs battled back to take the second game 25-23. Waubonsee then stunned the Skyhawks by racing out to a 10-1 lead in the third game on the way to a 25-22 victory. The Chiefs (2-2) finished off their upset bid by gradually pulling away in the fourth game to win 25-15.
In game one the Skyhawks front line power prevailed in the end, holding off Waubonsee's relentless offensive attack from the left side. A power kill by Maddie Mueller from the left side of the net tied the game at 4-all before Sauk Valley scored the next five points. That five point advantage was as big a lead as they would hold all night long. The Chiefs stayed within striking distance, but could never get closer than two points. A service ace by Kiara McPherson made it 21-19 prompting a Skyhawks timeout. Sauk Valley then tallied two of the next three points to maintain some breathing room. With the Skyhawks eyeing game-point, a long volley was ended by Mueller with another spike to make it 24-22. However, Lexi Greve's soft return tap on the ensuing volley fell in between two Chiefs players for the game-winning point for Sauk Valley.
The Skyhawks proceeded to score the initial five points of game two before Kiara McPherson stemmed the tide with her lone kill of the night. A few moments later Mueller registered a point from the middle of the net to knot the score at 6-all. Sauk Valley scored the next five points for an 11-6 lead after a long volley ended when a Chiefs' return shot hit the netting high above the court. Once again Waubonsee clawed its way back in a see-saw battle, eventually tying the game at 19 on an ace by Lydia Sabanish. Tied at 22-all a couple minutes later, Sauk Valley went ahead when a return smash by Olivia McPherson landed beyond the end line. The freshman from Aurora West High School quickly redeemed herself with a huge block on the next volley to again tie the game. After a Skyhawks' timeout McPherson put the Chiefs in front with a kill down the left side of the court. Waubonsee then tallied the game-winning point on a double-hit violation by the Skyhawks to even the match.
A rejuvenated Waubonsee squad came out clicking on all cylinders in the third game as they put Sauk Valley back on their heels. Three kills by Olivia McPherson, an ace by her sister Kiara, and perfectly placed return taps by Mueller and Hope Larson helped stake the Chiefs to an 8-0 lead. Waubonsee then kept the Skyhawks at arm's length throughout the rest of the game. An ace by Mueller put the Chiefs in front 15-6 and shortly thereafter Waubonsee led 17-10 when a Sauk Valley return was wide right down the sideline. The Skyhawks then began to edge their way back into the game pulling to within 20-16. A kill by Martin momentarily halted their momentum before Sauk Valley got to within three points at 22-19 on a block by Shannon Lytle. Mueller then responded with a return shot to the back right corner of the court for a 23-19 Waubonsee advantage. Kiley Sanders then booked a kill for Sauk Valley before Olivia McPherson's power spike from the left side went off the Skyhawks' attempted block and out of bounds. Sauk Valley was able to thwart the Chiefs' bid for game point twice to pull within two at 24-22. However, the third time was the charm for Waubonsee as Olivia McPherson's kill was ruled partially deflected by a Sauk Valley player before landing beyond the end line, giving the Chiefs game-point and a two games to one lead.
A fired up Sauk Valley crew took the opening point of the fourth game on a kill by Emma Carlson after a great back-and-forth volley. It was short lived though as Waubonsee responded with five straight points on the way to grabbing a 7-2 lead. The Chiefs then held off the Skyhawks throughout the rest of the game with contributions from several players. Highlighted by a pair of kills by Olivia McPherson, along with points by Martin, Mueller and Kiara McPherson, Waubonsee secured a 20-12 lead as Sauk Valley began to run out of gas. A block for a point and a kill from the middle of the net by Claire Sweeney gave Waubonsee a 23-15 lead. A net violation by Sauk Valley then put the Chiefs into position to win the game and the match. Martin quickly made that a reality by recording a service ace for a 25-15 Chiefs triumph.
Waubonsee was led by Olivia McPherson who finished with 22 kills and 15 digs. Mueller finished with 17 kills, a dozen digs, two aces and three blocks. Martin added 13 kills, seven digs and a pair of blocks, while Kiara McPherson tallied 54 assists and two aces, and Sabanish booked 27 digs. Waubonsee is in action again this coming Monday, March 1 when they host South Suburban College in a 6:00 p.m. (CDT) match. Due to the on-going Covid-19 safety and health protocols, no fans are allowed to attend the match in person. However, it will be streamed 'live' on-line via a link on Waubonsee's website www.GoChiefs.com