Bobcats Swept, Cougars Go on Winning-Streak

Patrick Rolling

Sept 29, 2022

Illinois Central College (ICC) Women’s Volleyball faced off against  Frontier Community College Bobcats Wednesday, September 21. Bobcats began with the opening serve, but the Cougars scored first. Emily Allison, #11 Freshman, is the first to serve for the Cougars, scoring a quick point. 

Libero Emily Cronkhite, #8 freshman, serves, scoring two points and an ace. Cronkhite advances the Cougars lead. A few points split, and it’s Hope Allen, #4 sophomore, digging the ball up and over the net into an unguarded spot between 3 Bobcats, retaking the serve and point.

Brynn Rossman, #6 sophomore, supplies three more points for ICC. Managing a couple of points before slipping up, the Bobcats send a ball out of bands to transfer serve back to the Cougars. 

Allison is back to serve, finding two quick points. The bobcats call a timeout with the score standing 14-8. Allison is unaffected, acing her next serve, another point for ICC. The next serve goes out of bounds, providing hope to the Bobcats and a point. 

Cronkhite claims the next serve after the Bobcats send one out of bounds, finding three points with three serves. A few traded possessions later, and the Cougars are ahead at 21 points. The first set won courtesy of Allen taking the Cougars on a four-point run.

The second set for ICC and a two-point early lead supplied by the amazing abilities of McKinley Daniels, #2 sophomore. Two separate Bobcat volleys send balls into the viewing stands and net the Cougars a few more points. As the score reaches 14-10 in favor of ICC, the Bobcats take a timeout. More points for both teams. Allison steps up to serve with the score at 15-11. 10 serves and 10 points later, including one ace, the Cougars finished the set, 25-11. 

Going into the third set, the Cougars again cross the gymnasium floor to take the seats they began at and their final switch. 

Bobcats open the match; however, the Cougars send one flying into the opposing Libero’s hands, only to have the ball smack the floor a second later, securing the set’s opening point for the Cougars. Cronkhite secures two points with two serves before the Bobcats handle serving again. Rossman will help take ICC on a five-point run, extending the lead over Frontier, after being substituted to serve. Daniels also serves up an ace in the third set. 

With the score 24-12, Allison managed the final spike, point, set, and match, sending the Bobcats home on a three-and-a-half-hour return trip with the bittersweet loss to carry with them.