Head coach Sue Sinclair talks her team through the game plan before Wednesday's match against Grand Rapids. The Cougars lost the match in five sets.

TOLEDO, OHIO - The Illinois Central College volleyball team lost its opening round matchup in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament against Grand Rapids Community College on Thursday night in Toledo, Ohio.

The Grand Rapids Raiders won the match in five sets by the score of 27-25, 21-25, 25-15, 25-16, 15-12. While the Cougars lost the match, they played well during parts.

“Grand Rapids played a good match,” said head coach Sue Sinclair. “It wasn’t like we made a lot of errors.”

In the opening set, the teams battled to gain the initiative. There were seven lead changes during the set, which showed how close the match was going to be.

The match was tied at the intervals of: 9-9, 11-11, 15-15, 18-18, 21-21, and even 25-25.

At that point, the Raiders took their chance to win the set and won the next two points to earn the first set victory, 27-25.

After dropping the first set, it was essential that the Cougars win the second set if they wanted a chance to win the match.

Sinclair could be heard at various points in the match yelling, “Play like you know you can.”

ICC played up to their potential in the second set, pushing through a hard fought set to claim a 25-21 victory.

The set started off with both teams earning 11 points, but from that point, ICC took control of the tempo and started playing their own style of game.

The Cougars went on a 14-10 run to close out the set, using some tremendous blocking to spur their run. Lindsay Herman also played a key role in the run, as she had five kills in the second set.

Grand Rapids took control of the match once more in the third set, regaining momentum by winning the set 25-15.

The Raiders raced out to a 15-6 lead to start the set, mostly because of solid hitting and blocking from their front line.

ICC won the fourth set by the score of 25-16, as Lindsay Herman once again played a superb set. Herman finished off the set with a kill that sent the match into the deciding set.

In the fifth set, the Raiders controlled the opening stages as they got out to a 10-4 lead. But, just like they did all match, the Cougars responded with authority, using a 7-1 run to tie the set at 11-11.

Just as there seemed to be hope for the Cougars, Grand Rapids once again responded, and this time it was a fatal blow.

The Raiders won four of the last five points to punch their ticket to the second round.

ICC was led in the match by Lindsay Herman, who had 17 kills, 21 digs, and three aces.

Other strong performers included: Janay Pollard (23 assists), Erin Schieler (10 kills, four blocks), and Nichole Wagenbach (11 kills).

With the loss, ICC falls into the consolation bracket in the tournament. The best that they can finish is now ninth.

Despite the fact that they are now playing in the consolation bracket, Sinclair has remained upbeat about the opportunities that await her team.

“It’s an opportunity for the players to play in front of recruiters, to end our season with a win, and a chance to get experience in a national tournament for the freshmen,” said Sinclair.

The Cougars will face off against the Prairie State Pioneers on Friday at 10 a.m. eastern time on Friday.

The 15-seeded Prairie State lost their opening round match against second-seeded Oakland Community College in straight sets, 25-16, 25-12, 25-19.

To watch the Lady Cougars matchup against Prairie State on Friday morning, go to psblive.com

To stay up to date with everything going on in Toledo with ICC volleyball, be sure to check in with the Harbinger’s Facebook site.