Young Players Bring High Hopes

EAST PEORIA — The new volleyball season has gotten off to a fast start including a national ranking and defeating the defending national champions.

“It was a great weekend, that we got to see some nationally ranked teams,” said coach Sue Sinclair about the results at the Owens Express Invitational.

The Cougars (9-1), ranked 16 in country, played six matches over Labor Day weekend in Toledo, Ohio.

The tournament was highlighted by three of the matches they played in against Oakland Community College (9-1), Monroe College and defending national champion Grand Rapids Community College (7-2).

“Very good competition and we played at a very good level,” said Sinclair.

Through the first 10 games, Sinclair has seen significant playing time from several freshman that have really impressed her including Jacqueline Twing, Katie Lee, Reilly Dunne and Emma Ross.

Twing leads the team with 271 assists so far this season. She also has eights aces, 19 kills and 81 digs.

“She is doing quite a bit of setting for us and helping run our offense,” Sinclair said.

Lee has 30 aces on the year already along with 69 kills and 103 digs. Sinclair feels like Lee has a chance to maybe set the school record with aces.

“She is a great ball control kid,” said Sinclair.

Dunne has 87 kills, nine aces and 33 digs in the first 10 games.

“[She] has done an excellent job in hitting percentage,” Sinclair said. “She also does a great job at the front of the net.”

The sophomores are highlighted by the returns of Shelby Kupferschmid, Quincy Merritt and Taylor Sauder.

“Quincy is doing a great job of serving for us right now,” said Sinclair about the sophomore.

The home schedule is highlighted by two home tournaments this year. The first one is Sept. 13 and 14, with their first game being against Rend Lake at 3 p.m. and later that evening at 7 p.m. against Mineral Area. The tournament also includes Vincennes and Jefferson Community College.

“It will be really good competition, with some good Division I teams,” said Sinclair about the first tournament this year. “Vincennes is usually in the polls and Rend Lake is always one of our regional teams that you want to pay attention to.”

Besides the home tournaments, the Cougars only have three other home matches.