The ICCAC conference volleyball season opened up last night with five matches around the Region!
Division II Conference Matches
Southeastern (4-5; 1-0) def. #9 Kirkwood (6-4; 0-1), 3-0
The Southeastern Blackhawks went into Cedar Rapids last night and made a big statement for the 2019 ICCAC Volleyball season. They took down the 9th-ranked Eagles in straight sets on their own floor.
Southeastern was led by freshman Rachel Bingham who tallied 17 kills and eight digs. Rachel Malinowski was one kill shy of a double-double, finishing with nine kills and 12 digs. Jenna Saad set up her teammates with 31 assists.
The Eagles were led by Aubrin Dittmer and Anna Gorisch, who finished the match with eight kills apiece.
Hawkeye (5-5; 1-0) def. Southwestern (0-10; 0-1), 3-0
Hawkeye put away Southwestern 3-0 in their first conference match of the season. The RedTails took the sets, 25-17, 25-17 and 25-20.
Leah Carter paced the Hawkeye attack, finishing the match with 27 assists. Those assists went to Jessica Hopkins (10) and Paige Eiffler (8), the two kills leaders for the night. Defensively, the RedTails finished with six blocks, and Haylee Keune and Macy Mommer each finished with double-digit digs.
Since joining the conference schedule Hawkeye is 8-2 in ICCAC play.
#13 Iowa Central (7-1; 1-0) def. Ellsworth (0-6; 0-1), 3-0
Last year's regular-season champion Iowa Central opened up the 2019 season with a convincing win over Ellsworth, 3-0. The Tritons won the three sets by a combined score of 75-36. The most points they gave up in a set was 15 in the third set.
Seventeen Tritons participated in the match last night, as NJCAA Division II Defensive Player of the Week in Week 1, Haley Alharithy, led the team in kills with eight. Alesha Johnson had 13 assists and Katie Godfredsen had 11. Taylor Bienemann finished with 16 digs defensively.
Iowa Central has won their last 10 regular season ICCAC matches, dating back to Oct. 25, 2017, when they fell to DMACC, 3-1 in the regular-season finale.
DMACC (3-3; 1-0) def. NIACC (6-3; 0-1), 3-2
Match of the night went to DMACC and NIACC, who played in a five-setter full of swings. DMACC, who ultimately came out on top 3-2, won the first two sets 25-21 and 25-23 and seemingly had the match wrapped up. But NIACC did not give in.
The Trojans rebounded, winning set three 25-21 and in set four, led 15-0 before winnings 25-20.
In the final set, down 9-7, NIACC put two serves into the net. The faults gave the Bears the momentum and in the end, a 15-10 fifth set victory.
Amber Dilsaver led DMACC in kills with 19. She also ended with three serving aces. Delaney Kelley had a double-double, with 11 kills and 23 digs, and Darian Gray was one kill shy, totaling nine kills and 25 digs. The Bears offense was set up by Cailey Schaa, who had 36 assists.
Defensively, Dakota Miles had a league-high 42 digs on the night for DMACC.
NIACC was led by Kennedy Meister who had a league-high 29 kills paired with 21 digs. Three Trojans had 21 digs, including Kayla Lentz and Becca Steffen. Two others, Bri Powers (19) and Alexa Loftus (14) finished in double-digits as well.
Steffen also had 33 assists, leading the way fro the Trojans.
Northeast (6-5; 1-0) def. Iowa Lakes (0-10; 0-1), 3-0
Reigning Region XI-A Champion Northeast started their conference season off 1-0 with a 3-0 win over Iowa Lakes. The Hawks outscored the Lakers 75-37 in the three sets. Only 16 of the Lakers points came from kills.
Megan Wherbein and Brianna Bauer were the leading scorers for Northeast, both totaling 11.5 points. Hannah Heppner was right behind them with 10. Jamie Bonifas had 33 assists and 13 digs from her setter position. Josie Sanger and Elley Beaver had 16 and 15 digs, respectively.
Faith Marroquin did what she could for the Lakers, finishing with 20 digs. Lindsey Jensen was the team leader in kills with five.