Cougars Keep Battling For Wins

EAST PEORIA — The Illinois Central College womens volleyball team sported a winning record at the Parkland Invitational last weekend.

“[It] was a great weekend,” said coach Sue Sinclair about the tournament. “Would have loved to go 6-0 but 4-2 isn’t too shabby.”

The Cougars (17-4) traveled to Parkland who is ranked second in the national polls, and went 4-2. On the first day of the tournament they won their first match against Des Moines Area in four sets but then lost to Kirkwood in five sets.

“We wish we would have finished that one,” said Sinclair about the loss to Kirkwood. “Would have liked to come out on top.”

When they played the host Cobras from Parkland, ICC came up short losing in three sets.

“We just didn’t produce,” Sinclair said. “Parkland just had solid play and took care of their business.”

Their wins came against Iowa Central, Owens and Macomb over that weekend.

“They were good wins,” said Sinclair. “We took care of business.”

Nagging injuries have hobbled the Cougars as “three if not four players” have been battling aches and pains.

“You can tell that at times,” said Sinclair. “We will have a little more rest this week.”

The team has been led by a trio of freshman in Kattie Lee, Reilly Dunne and Jacqueline Twing. Lee leads the team in aces with 54. “Her [Lee] numbers have been impressive so far this season,” said Sinclair.

Dunne leads the team in kills with 174 and she also has 26 aces. “She is very dynamic in her serve,” said Sinclair.

Twing leads the team in assists with 569. She also has 58 kills and nine aces. “She does a nice job of running our offense,” Sinclair said about Twing. “She has a consistent ball.”

Sinclair has also been impressed by Taylor Sauder, Quincy Merritt and Shelby Kupferschmid. The three players are all sophomores and they have led on the court.

“She is a very focused, intense player,” said Sinclair about Sauder.

“She has done big things,” said Sinclair about Merritt. “She is the type of player that wants to be looked at come game time.”

In the new national polls that was released on Sept. 25, ICC is currently ranked 12 in the nation according to njcaa.org.

Over the weekend at Parkland, Sinclair achieved a milestone in winning match number 800.

“I am blessed to share and impact as many people as I have,” said Sinclair.

ICC will play in two more tournaments before returning home. One is in Jacksonville, Florida and the other is in Vincennes, Indiana.

The Cougars don’t return home until Oct. 9 when they host Lincoln Land at 6 p.m. They will also host a home tournament on Oct. 18 and 19 at home.