Champaign Tastes Like a Sweep for Reivers in Final Weekend

CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS

Tenth-ranked Reiver Volleyball made a quick trek to central Illinois for their final weekend of regulars season play.  The Reivers faced both Lincoln Land and Parkland College on Saturday afternoon.  A slow start in set one against Lincoln Land saw the Loggers take a 25-20 victory.  That was all the Reivers needed to see, storming back to win the match in four sets (20-25, 25-11, 25-11,25-20). Freshman Reka Kotorman ended the match with a double-double, collecting 11 digs and 42 assists, while teammates Kortlyn Henderson and Gracie Teeter took charge of the offense, scoring 31 kills and setting up for a combined 5 blocks.

D-2 Number one Parkland was next on the docket.  The host Cobras had ripped off 35 straight victories and boasted a 52-1 overall mark.  Parkland dominated the first two sets, topping the Reivers 25-17 and 25-15.  On the ropes, the Reivers adjusted, rallying all the way back to take the match 3-2.  Iowa Western stayed alive with a thrilling 28-26 victory in Set 3 with more of the same in a 27-25 win to force the fifth and deciding set in set four before winning the match 15-12 in the deciding set.

Lauren Walenz and Kelsey Havel tag-teamed the backcourt, picking up a combined 41 digs. Sophomore Genesis Sheridan went off, scoring a team-high 22 kills on 31 attempts (.645). Freshman Gracie Teeter minded the net with 5 blocks, helping to slow Parkland's offense.

The Reivers ended the regular season with an overall record of 26-9.  This weekend, they'll head back to Illinois, this time to Carterville, where John A. Logan hosts the Midwest District A Tournament.  The Reivers will face Vincennes to begin the weekend as they hope to clinch their 14th straight berth the NJCAA National Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas.  Nationals begin November 21st in the Sunflower State.

Follow the Reivers journey on Twitter - @ReiverVB