(Sugar Grove, IL.) - Waubonsee Community College improved to 12-4 overall on the season with a methodical win over Illinois Valley Community College on day two of the Chiefs' Crossover Tournament. The Chiefs swept the Eagles (6-4) in three straight games 25-13, 25-18 and 25-22 in Waubonsee's Field House. The round-robin tournament, featuring 11 of the top teams in the NJCAA's Region IV, continues through tomorrow.
In the opener the Chiefs pulled away midway through and took a commanding 19-10 lead. Maizy Larson then finished off the game one victory with a service ace. In game two the Chiefs picked up right where they left off by scoring the first six points of the game. Included in that streak was a solo block by Kayla Battle, an ace by Anna Friedlund and a big kill by Larson. Despite a pair of service errors, Waubonsee built its lead up to 14-4 to seemingly take complete control of the game. However, after an Illinois Valley time out the Eagles rallied by scoring seven of the next eight points to get within four at 15-11. The Chiefs once again righted the ship as Battle and Larson combined on a block and Natalie Jones served up an ace to make it 19-12. Minutes later Jones perfectly placed a touch shot, tapping the ball just over the net to clinch game two.
Game three went back and forth in the early going before Waubonsee asserted its power at the net to complete the sweep. The Chiefs took their first lead at 9-8 on a kill by Jones before Emma King took over. The sophomore from Sandwich High School scored on an ace, blasted a spike shot down the left side and booked another kill to put the Chiefs ahead 18-13. Illinois Valley scored three straight points to get within 20-18 before King dumped a touch shot over the Eagles' block attempt to turn the tide once again. Sidney Fedor then tallied the match clinching point with a power spike from the right side to end it 25-22.
King finished the match with 10 kills and 11 digs to lead the way for Waubonsee. Fedor recorded a dozen kills, Jones was credited with 32 assists and five aces, and Battle registered six kills and five solo blocks. Friedlund chipped in with six kills, Kendall Iversen made 24 digs and Larson tallied six kills and nine digs.