(Sugar Grove, IL.) – Waubonsee Community College women's volleyball team looked to solidify their hold on third place in the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference (ISCC) standings. But visiting Oakton Community College spoiled those plans as they downed the Chiefs three games to none. The Chiefs (5-19, 4-3) dropped to fourth in the ISCC with the Owls (11-15, 4-3) jumping up to third by holding the edge head-to-head. Oakton won the opener 25-19 and duplicated that in game two with another 25-19 win. Waubonsee then led late in game three before Oakton rallied to win 25-23.

Waubonsee's Athena Westphal tallied the first point of the match with a kill from the left side. However, Oakton scored 10 of the next 12 points, including seven in a row, to grab a 10-3 lead. The Owls' 6'1" Sophia Pjevic proved to be a force in the middle as Oakton extended its' lead to 14-4. Waubonsee chipped away at the deficit taking four of the next five points. A block by Oakton's 6'0" Adrionne Sharp stymied the Chiefs' attack as the visitors built a 20-11 lead. Madison Marziani-Radomski served up an ace and Makayla McNally smashed a kill as Waubonsee got to within 23-16. But a kill by DaCarriya Giwa-Finley got the Owls to game point. The Chiefs tried to stay alive as they reeled off the next three points, but a service error ended the game in favor of Oakton 25-19.

Claudia Johnson started the second set with an ace to get Waubonsee going. But in similar fashion to the first game the Owls scored four of the next five points to take an early lead. Tauja Crump recorded a kill to keep Waubonsee within striking distance at 9-5. But an emphatic block by Pjevic sparked another run by Oakton as they built a 12-5 lead. The Owls maintained that seven-point advantage before the Chiefs clawed their way to within four points at 18-14. A little drop shot for a point by Taylor Greer-Ahmed made the score 20-16 prompting a timeout by Oakton. After the pause in play Crump fired a service ace to make it a three-point deficit. But the Owls responded with two quick points as they edged toward taking the second game. A block by Sharp pushed the Owls' lead to 24-18 before another service error by Waubonsee ended the second game just like the first by an identical score of 25-19.

The third set began with Oakton scoring a couple points before Westphal registered a block for a point. However, Pjevic again scored from the middle of the net as the Owls booked four straight points to grab a 6-1 lead. Oakton took an 11-6 lead when Sharp recorded a kill as they tried to hold off the Chiefs. Back-to-back kills by Westphal got Waubonsee within two points at 12-10. A perfectly placed tap by Crump and another kill by Westphal suddenly knotted the score a minute later. Westphal then capped off a lengthy volley with another spike to give the Chiefs the lead. After an Oakton return error extended Waubonsee's lead to 15-12, three straight miscues by the home team allowed Oakton to tie the score. A kill by Crump was followed by a block by Pjevic. Waubonsee then answered with four straight points, highlighted by a kill by McNally. A spike by Roche extended the lead to 21-16 before a service error broke the Chiefs' streak. A huge block by Oakton and a thunderous kill cut the deficit to two at 22-20. Waubonsee head coach Steve Kish then called timeout after a miscue allowed Oakton to pull within one. After the halt in play Greer-Ahmed registered a power kill for a 23-21 Chiefs lead. But Oakton was able to tie the game at 23 a minute later. Oakton then won a long volley and a violation by Waubonsee ended the game and match in favor of the Owls.

Crump finished with nine kills and a pair of service aces, while Westphal tallied eight kills and 14 digs. McNally added five kills, Marziani-Radomski had two aces and was credited with 19 digs, with Johnson booking 24 assists. Waubonsee is in action again next Thursday, October 17 when they travel to Joliet Junior College for a 6:00 p.m. match. The Chiefs return home to Erickson Hall Gymnasium the following day, Friday, October 18 as they host Illinois Valley Community College starting at 6:00 p.m.