JACKSONVILLE, Ill. - In a match that had tremendous implications regarding who makes the Midwest Conference Tournament, Illinois College defended its home court, downing Lake Forest College, 3-1 (25-18, 25-20, 23-25, 25-12). With the win, the Lady Blues secure the final spot in the MWC Tournament, their first appearance since 2006. IC improves to 17-6 (6-3 MWC) as the season winds down.
Lake Forest came out hitting on all cylinders, establishing an early 6-1 advantage in the first set.
MacKenzie Heinz capped a run of three consecutive kills for the Lady Blues, who clawed back to take their first lead since the opening point, 12-11. The Foresters would reclaim the lead soon after, going up 14-13 following an IC attack error. The Lady Blues responded well, as an ace from
Rebecca Shields put the cherry on top of a seven-point run to see IC push its advantage out to 21-15. Lake Forest could pull no closer than five points, handing the first set to Illinois College, 25-18.
Maddie Ramsey tallied six kills in the set for IC, with Heinz and
Ali Pankey contributing three.
If there was any chance to even the score for Lake Forest in the second set, Illinois College wasn't letting it come to fruition. Another ace from Shields broke a 3-3 tie, and the Lady Blues never looked back. IC tallied five straight points to extend its lead to a set-high nine points, 17-8. The Foresters nearly reeled themselves in, using a six-point rally to pull within two, 17-15, before Pankey smashed the ball for a kill, one of her five in the set, to break the run. The Lady Blues re-established a softer cushion after
Cheyanne Jockisch's ace put the team back up by five, 24-19. Lake Forest tallied one more point, but that's all the damage the Foresters would do, as IC took the set, 25-20, as well as a 2-0 lead in the match.
With Illinois College seeming to be in cruise control, Lake Forest was looking for the reverse-sweep. The third set mirrored the second; the Foresters took an early lead and rode it to the end. IC, down as much as seven in the set, pulled within one, 24-23, but Olivia Smith of Lake Forest was able to tally a kill to push the match to a fourth set. Pankey finished the set with five kills.
Elizabeth Ganley,
Maddie Ramsey, and Shields each contributed to the team's two blocks, bringing the Lady Blues' total to five.
The fourth set turned into a clinic for Illinois College. After taking a 2-1 lead, the Lady Blues exploded, quickly flying to an 8-2 advantage. Heinz squared up the ball for a kill that put the Lady Blues up by 12, 20-8. Lake Forest tried to spark a miracle of a comeback, but that was not in the works for IC. Ganley capped off Illinois College's senior day with an ace of her own, putting the icing on a dominating fourth set for the Lady Blues, as the 25-12 result secured the 3-1 victory for IC. As a team, the Lady Blues hit .353 in the set.
The Lady Blues make the short trip across town for their next match, squaring off against MacMurray College on October 24 at 7 p.m. The next and final home match for Illinois College comes on October 30, when Webster University comes to town for a 6 p.m. match.
