Northeast escapes Southwestern in four sets

Southwestern volleyball fell at home to NJCAA Div. II No. 17 Northeast Community College in four sets 17-25, 25-27, 25-23, 15-25 Wednesday, but it wasn’t for lack of effort.

The Spartans made the Hawks sweat in the second and third sets and nearly swiped a two sets to one advantage if not for some key points and crucial calls going the other way.

“We definitely have a lot of potential. It’s just a matter of putting it all together now,” said sophomore setter and team captain Ashley Porter. “Really just executing when it comes down to it ... It’s not a matter of ability, just finishing.”

SWCC led 23-22 in the second set, coming out of a Northeast timeout the Hawks managed to take advantage of a long rally and tie the set at 23-all.

Southwestern once again gained a one-point advantage, going up 25-24 and held a set point with Jada Perkins serving. Northeast’s Julia Eskens put away a kill to tie things before Elley Beaver spiked a ball off the floor to give the Hawks a 26-25 lead.

Northeast used a third consecutive kill to clinch the set.

Late in the second set, Perkins and Jentri Hullinger each put away a kill to tie the set, but a mistake on each of the following points put the Hawks up one and gave them a side out.

In the third set, Southwestern trailed 14-9, but a kill from Danica Sunderman, Emily Williams and Perkins helped spur a 7-2 run that tied the set at 16-16. Perkins had 12 kills in the match.

Sandwiched in between two Kailey Miracky kills was a Taylor Miracle ace that pushed the Spartans ahead 24-19.

Northeast rallied to cut the third set to 24-23, but Hullinger pounded a kill off a Hawk player to end the third in favor of the Spartans. Hullinger ended the contest with five kills while Williams added seven for SWCC.

Hannah Ryan put together four kills in the third set and finished the night with a team-high 13 kills.

SWCC started slow in the fourth set and couldn’t quite pull itself out of an early 13-5 hole as the Hawks closed the door thanks to a couple of Spartan missed serves.

“They realize we’re better than we give ourselves credit for,” said Spartan head coach Casey Quiggle. “We’re playing right there with them. We just got to fix some timely errors.”

With room to improve, a young Southwestern team has received plenty of guidance from its captain, whether she is on or off the floor.

“I try to give my teammates options because sometimes they need just a little more instruction.” said Porter. “Especially when it’s crunch time ... I try to pick out someone like ‘hey put the team on your back. Execute right here. You got this open.’”

When she isn’t setting, the Davis, Ill. native can be found right next to coach Quiggle pointing out advice for her teammates.

Porter dished out 26 assists in the loss.

“She was unanimously voted our captain ... they know her to be a leader and that’s why she is out there,” said Quiggle.

The two tight sets against a conference foe and one of the best teams in Div. II gives both coach and players plenty of optimism heading into a weekend triangular with another conference foe and a Southeast Community College team that bested the Spartans to open the season.

UP NEXT – Southwestern (6-12, 0-4) gets a rematch against Southeast and will take on fellow ICCAC opponent Southeastern Community College (7-3, 2-2).

“If we play like we did tonight against Southeast, I have a good feeling about it,” said Quiggle. “That was our first game of the season ... We’ve made a lot of improvements. I’m sure they have too, but I feel good about it.”

Spartans add three Sunday wins

CANTON, Mo. – SWCC picked up a clean sweep of matches Sunday against Culver-Stockton JV (25-22, 25-20), Graceland Sting (26-24, 25-17) and the Graceland Jackets (21-25, 25-23, 15-0).

Perkins led the team in each of the three contests with six, 11 and seven kills against the three opponents.

In the three matches, Porter had 44 assists.

Kirkwood handles SWCC

CEDAR RAPIDS – The Eagles pounded away 40 kills in a 25-17, 25-17, 25-10 win over Southwestern Sept. 12.

Hannah Ryan led the Spartans’ attack with seven kills and Perkins, Williams, Sunderman and Hullinger each added three of their own.

Kirkwood is now ranked No. 10 in the NJCAA Div. II poll.