By: Illinois College took all six sets it played on Friday, downing Fontbonne and Blackburn on the first day of the Illinois College Tournament.
Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – The Illinois College volleyball team started its 2017 season on a successful note, sweeping Fontbonne University and Blackburn College on the first day of the Illinois College Tournament. The Lady Blues wrap up the tournament tomorrow with matches against Trine University at 10 a.m. and Culver-Stockton College at 2 p.m.
Match One: Illinois College 3, Fontbonne 0
(25-16, 25-20, 25-18)
Elizabeth Ganley had 34 assists distributed neatly among
Ali Pankey,
Maddie Ramsey and
Rebecca Shields, all of whom ended the match with 10 kills as the Lady Blues began the season strongly. Ganley added 17 digs to tie
Madie Budd for the team-high in the category in the match, closing with a double-double. Pankey also registered a double-double as she had 10 digs.
IC had little trouble in the first set, hitting at a .263 clip as a team. A 17-12 lead ballooned out to 23-12 with Shields serving as Fontbonne had no answer for the junior outside hitter.
The second set remained close for quite awhile, with Fontbonne tying it for the final time at 17-17. Pankey and
MacKenzie Heinz teamed up for a block at the net that broke the tie and gave the Lady Blues the lead back. That would be the first of six consecutive points to break it open and allow IC to take a 2-0 lead.
A solid service game helped IC get to the finish line. Though the Lady Blues hit only .057 in the third set, Illinois College notched four aces and Pankey had five of the team's 12 kills.
Kori Hayes had one of her match-high four aces in the third.
Match Two: Illinois College 3, Blackburn 0
(25-12, 25-19, 25-19)
The Lady Blues had their defense clicking on all cylinders, holding Blackburn to a .000 hitting percentage in the match en route to the sweep. Pankey had a match-high 13 kills and a whopping .522 hitting percentage while Shields added 12 kills of her own. Ganley once again had a double-double with 37 assists and 11 digs.
The first set was all Illinois College as IC hit .379 compared to Blackburn's -.143. The Lady Blues scored seven of the first eight points in the match and were barely troubled from there.
The second set was closer, but every push from Blackburn was answered by a run from Illinois College to stay out in front. Pankey and Shields each had four kills in the set and Budd served two aces.
Illinois College once again held the Beavers to a negative hitting percentage in the third and final set.
