Volleyball team playing well, 19-14 record, 5-4 in N4C
By Holli L. Rapp
The Lady Apaches volleyball team has a 19-14 overall record and a 5-4 record in the North Central Community College Conference.
IVCC went 1-3 at the Skyway Challenge Oct. 24 where they defeated Elgin 11-15, 15-13, 15-13, but later fell to McHenry 5-15 and 1- 5 which Head Coach Kirsten McLendon said "was definitely their number one team".
McLendon added that her team had the chance to defeated both Moraine Valley and College of Lake County but fell to Moraine 13-15, 15-5, 9-15 and to Lake County 10-15 and 9-15.
The Lady Apaches traveled to Elgin on Oct. 22 where they defeated Elgin and fell to Kankakee. Sophomore Sarah Riebe had nine kills in the Elgin match to lead the Lady Apaches, while fellow sophomore Amanda Anderson dished out 16 assists in the 9-15, 15-6, 15-9 win.
In the second match, Kankakee came out on top with a 15-5 and 15-8 victory as Riebe and Leslie Urnikis had six kills each for the IVCC.
The Lady Apaches have had only six players in the last weeks due to a year-ending injury to freshman setter Abby Stella and various injuries. McLendon also was without the services of 6 foot Michelle Kaps at Elgin, because Kaps had her wisdom teeth pulled but Kaps came back for the Skyway and played well..
IVCC’s team came out with a 3rd place in the conference tournament Oct. 17. College of DuPage came out on top and Joliet took second. Riebe was named to the All Conference First Team and Amanda Anderson was named to the 2nd team. Two other team members, Jodi Carrico and Leslie Urnikis, both received honorable mention for conference while Riebe and Carrico received nominations for the tournament.
In the conference tournament, The Lady Apaches fell to College of DuPage 15-7,14-16, 9-15. Carrico, a 5’2" hitter, had 11 kills, and 27 digs for IVCC. Riebe had 10 kills, 1 block, and 2 ace serves. Anderson had 3 assists for the Lady Apaches.
IVCC also lost to Joliet, in two straight games, 8-15,13-15 after having defeated Joliet twice this season. Riebe lead the team with 9 kills and Desiree’ Newman had 8 along with Carrico having 22 digs.
In the match to determine third place in the tourney, IVCC beat Rock Valley, by scores of 15-7, 5-15, 15-7. Riebe led the team in three categories with 10 kills, 6 blocks, and 6 ace serves.
IVCC opened up pool play in the tourney with a 15-5,15-5 victory over Triton College. Carrico lead the team with 5 and Riebe added 4. Urnikis lead the team in digs with 19, while Anderson had 11 assists.
The second year head coach believes that her team’s strongest point is that they are defensive minded while their weaknesses are intensity levels, and sometimes they play flat. Not having enough players has also been a problem.
The Lady Apaches have been hurt by injuries this year as freshman setter Abby Stella went down with a season ending injury which cut the team down to 7 members, but Tara Kline, a Fieldcrest grad, joined the team.
"Our four sophomores (Riebe, Anderson, Carrico, and Urnikis) are the base of the team; (they) have played real well," said McLendon.
The Lady Apaches will be playing their final match, at home, on Nov. 2 against Lincoln at 6 p.m. and the head coach believes that her team will do well.
10/29/98 the Apache