(Sugar Grove, IL.) – The three-day Chiefs' Crossover Tournament, featuring 11 of the top volleyball squads in the NJCAA's Region IV, began with an intense battle between Waubonsee Community College and Black Hawk College. The Chiefs edged the Braves 31-29 in game one before the visitors' evened things with a 25-20 win. Waubonsee then bounced back with a 25-16 triumph and finished off the Braves, who looked sluggish as the match progressed, by taking game four 25-17.
The opening game was a nail-biter from beginning to end. Black Hawk led just 9-8 before Waubonsee scored six straight points to snag a 14-9 lead. The Braves responded and took a quick 18-17 lead. A long volley then ensued and was eventually won by the Chiefs as Emma King blasted a spike in front of Black Hawk's bench. Waubonsee tallied three more points and moments later took what seemed like a commanding 24-21 lead when Anna Friedlund registered a kill. Facing game point, the Braves called timeout to regroup. After the break they did just that as they rallied to go ahead on a block 25-24.
Waubonsee then stayed alive, tying it at 25-all as Maizy Larson's spike was deflected out of bounds by the Braves. The game went back and forth as Black Hawk staved off defeat once more and the Chiefs faced game point three times. A long volley was won by the Chiefs when King scored on a kill to tie it at 28-all. Moments later Friedlund evened things at 29 with a kill. The Braves then committed a net violation on the next volley to set up game point for Waubonsee once again. The Chiefs won it when King and Friedlund combined for a game-winning block in the middle of the net.
Game two Blackhawk grabbed an early 9-4 lead. The Braves maintained that cushion holding a 15-10 advantage midway through. Waubonsee clawed its way back to within one at 17-16 prompting a Black Hawk timeout. A few minutes later a spike by Kayla Battle down the right side got the Chiefs within 21-19. But Black Hawk kept Waubonsee at bay and won the game 25-20 when the Chiefs were called for a net violation.
Game three Waubonsee got out to an early lead at 8-3. Black Hawk stayed within striking distance and trailed just 15-13 at the midway point. A successful Chiefs' block and a kill by Natalie Jones put the home team in front 18-13. An ace by Sidney Fedor then gave the Chiefs their biggest lead to that point at 20-13. After a Black Hawk timeout Fedor was credited with another ace to put Waubonsee in control at 22-13. Jones then finished off the Chiefs' 25-16 victory with a tricky misdirection shot that caught the Braves off guard.
The Chiefs took control early in the fourth game as fatigue appeared to set in for the Braves. Waubonsee grabbed a 14-8 lead and maintained that six-point advantage at 17-11 when Battle recorded one of her 10 kills in the match. Black Hawk called timeout after the Chiefs took a 19-12 lead to try and stop Waubonsee's momentum. Not long after Fedor put the Chiefs in front 20-13 with a crossing shot along the net. Waubonsee then quickly got to match point by grabbing a 24-13 lead. Black Hawk made one last surge scoring the next four points. But Friedlund ended the match with a resounding kill, her 10th on the day, in the middle of the net.
Friedlund led the way for Waubonsee with 10 kills and six solo blocks, while Battle contributed 10 kills and five solo blocks. Larson chipped in with eight kills, Jones finished with 38 assists and six kills, and Kendall Iversen recorded 30 digs. Fedor ended the match with six kills and three serving aces, and King tallied six kills as Waubonsee picked up its' 10th win of the season.