FREEPORT, Ill — Home is where your fans are, so northern Illinois might as well have been the SWCC volleyball team’s home this past weekend as it won three straight matches for the first time in coach Aleesha Cleaver’s time as coach.
Cleaver scheduled the trip with the opportunity in mind to let the girls play in front of friends and family, and the same went for her, a Rockford, Illinois native.
Friday, the Spartans breezed by Highland Community College by scores of 25-15, 25-11, 35-21.
Jada Perkins, Hannah Ryan and Kelcie Shields combined to be a force for kills, with the trio tallying 29 with just four attack errors in the win.
Ryan, a Davis, Illinois native, was one of four Illinois natives playing close to home. Cleaver recruited a solid crew of this year’s freshman group from her old stomping grounds.
They looked more than comfortable playing in front of familiar faces.
“Friday night I was unsure of how we we’re going to come out. We were on the bus for six hours,” Cleaver said. “We really took control from the opening point and never looked back.”
Ashley Porter, another Davis native, provided 27 assists to the Spartans’ cause.
DES PLANES, Ill — The Spartans filled up several stat columns in securing another three-set victory, this time against Oakton Community College.
SWCC won 25-12, 25-23, 25-20.
This time, Perkins hammered home 18 kills, Shields had 11 and Ryan had 9.
“I really thought that Jada, Hannah and Kelcie and Hannah were on fire about every game,” Cleaver said.
Porter pushed up 31 assists, Kopplin registered 15 digs and Perkins added 11 more digs.
The Spartans managed to fend off any serious Oakton runs, and finish with the authority they had lacked up until the weekend.
“They were seeing the floor an communicating well and telling each other what was open and what was available,” Cleaver said.
ROCKFORD, Ill — The final match of the weekend was as critical to any over the weekend for the Spartans’ confidence going forward.
The Spartans rallied from an 8-3 deficit against Rock Valley in the fifth and deciding set to win 15-12.
Prior to that, SWCC and Rock Valley traded blows, with the Spartans winning set one 25-22, falling 25-21, winning again 25-19 and falling 23-25 to set up the winning set.
Shields and Perkins swung with supreme confidence. Perkins smashed a gaudy 30 kills while Shields had 20 more.
Kopplin and Porter worked together in sync as the former had 30 digs and the latter put up 56 assists.
“It was a really cool atmosphere, especially for Ashley Kopplin, I don’t think she’s played in front of her family,” Cleaver said.
Ryan (28 digs) and Perkins (24 digs) were workhorses throughout the evening.
Emily Williams, another Rockford native provided her biggest boost of the weekend with eight blocks in the win.
“I think this week was much-needed and I think it’s going to be a huge confidence boost,” Cleaver said.
UP NEXT — SWCC (7-11, 1-2) plays at Northeast Community College (10-8, 2-1) today (Wednesday).