GALESBURG, Ill. – The Illinois College volleyball team didn't mess around in its Midwest Conference opener on Wednesday night, taking Knox College out in three quick sets (25-19, 25-8, 25-14). The Lady Blues run their mark to 9-2 (1-0 MWC) with the victory.
Illinois College took a lead early on in every set. Knox's last lead in the first set was at 2-1, but
Brenna Dameris had the first of her five kills in the set to cap a three-point run to make it 4-2. Later on,
Abbie Horstmann was in on back-to-back blocks followed by a kill to take a 9-4 lead on the Prairie Fire. Horstmann and
Madison Klanke each tacked on four kills as the Lady Blues took a 1-0 lead.
The second set was over almost immediately. Illinois College hit a whopping .406 as a team while the Prairie Fire floundered to a -.031 hitting percentage as a squad in the set. The Lady Blues started out with the first six points and grew the advantage to 12-2. The lead reached as high as 24-6 before Knox scored a couple late points.
After going down 1-0 to start the third set, Illinois College scored 14 of the next 16 points to once again take a commanding lead.
Ali Pankey had seven of her team-high 12 kills to pace the Lady Blues in the set and wrap up the sweep.
Pankey made it a double-double on the night by also adding in a team-high 14 digs. Klanke ended with eight kills and Horstmann had six on a match-best .750 hitting percentage.
Elizabeth Ganley had 34 assists on the night.
Reagan Gifford added on 12 digs.
Next up for IC is a non-conference match at Wheaton College on Friday night at 7 p.m. ahead of a return to MWC on Saturday at Lake Forest College.
