ELSAH, Ill. – The Illinois College volleyball team remained undefeated after two victories on Saturday over Principia College and Hannibal-LaGrange University. The Lady Blues moved to 5-0 after consecutive sweeps.
Next up for Illinois College is a two-day, four-match tournament hosted by Millikin University next Friday and Saturday. On Friday evening, the Lady Blues will face Lincoln College at 5:30 p.m. before going up against the hosts at 7:30 p.m.
Illinois College 3, Principia 0
(25-20, 25-21, 25-12)
Principia put up a fight for two sets before IC demolished the Panthers in the third set to close out the match to open up the day on Saturday morning.
Maddie Ramsey led the offense with 16 kills while
Elizabeth Ganley compiled an outstanding double-double of 39 assists and 21 digs.
IC has shown an ability early on this season to start clicking offensively and hold serve for a long time. Tied at 7-7 in the first set, the Lady Blues earned a side-out on an
Abbie Horstmann kill and then reeled off another six straight to take a 14-7 lead.
Reagan Gifford had three kills in that stretch for Illinois College. Principia closed to within two later in the set, but IC widened the margin out by the end.
After fending off a challenge from the Panthers in the second set, Illinois College again turned a close set into a blowout in the third. Principia was as close as 8-6 in the early going before IC scored eight unanswered with four coming from
Madison Klanke. Ahead 16-6, IC cruised to the finish to start the day off right.
Ali Pankey chipped in with nine kills in the match and Klanke ended with six.
Madie Budd had a team-high four service aces along with 11 digs.
Emily Woods tacked on another 15 digs as Principia could hit only .034 against the Lady Blues in the match.
Illinois College 3, Hannibal-LaGrange 0
(25-10, 25-13, 25-16)
Pankey had more kills in the sweep of Hannibal-LaGrange than the Trojans managed in the entire match. The Lady Blues came out swinging and never stopped, ending with a 52-12 edge in total kills.
Five players managed at least five kills in the match for the Lady Blues, led by 15 from Pankey. Ramsey ended the match with nine, while Horstmann had seven.
Brenna Dameris added another six kills and Gifford had five. Ganley was busy handing out the feeds on those kills, ending with 47 assists in the three sets. Budd led the back-row defense with a match-high 13 digs.
