MONMOUTH, Ill. – The Illinois College volleyball team vaulted to the top of the Midwest Conference standings on Tuesday night with a 3-0 sweep of Monmouth College (25-19, 25-23, 26-24). The win pushes the Lady Blues to 11-3 (3-0 MWC) on the year.
Illinois College had more success on offense as the match went along, but the easiest set for the Lady Blues came in the first when they had their lowest hitting percentage of the night. Despite hitting at a rate of only .117, IC came away with a 25-19 win to take a quick lead on the Fighting Scots.
In the second set, Monmouth roared back from a late five-point deficit to knot the score at 23-23, only to serve the ball into the net and give IC the ball and a chance to serve for the 2-0 lead. An attack error from the Fighting Scots followed to give Illinois College the two-set advantage.
It looked like more of the same in the third set as the Lady Blues led comfortably throughout and earned a match point at 24-19. Monmouth suddenly came to life and tied the score at 24-24 but with the set about to slip away,
Abbie Horstmann delivered back-to-back kills to bring the match to a close.
Ali Pankey had her run of three straight double-doubles come to an end, but she still provided Illinois College with a match-high 15 kills and eight digs.
Elizabeth Ganley had a double-double of 35 assists and 16 digs.
Madie Budd had 16 digs as well. Both
Madison Klanke and
Maddie Ramsey ended with eight kills on the night.
Illinois College returns home this weekend for three matches on Friday and Saturday. First up is a battle for first place in the MWC on Friday night at 7 p.m. against St. Norbert College.
