Kirkwood Volleyball

KCC volleyball takes 7th at nationals

CHARLESTOWN, W.Va. - The Kirkwood women's volleyball team swept Coffeyville Saturday to finish seventh at the NJCAA Division II national tournament for the second straight year.

The Eagles whipped Coffeyville in straight sets, 25-12, 25-19, 27-25, to finish the season with a 34-10 record. The Eagles compiled a 2-2 record at the national tournament at the Charleston Civic Center.

Alex Miner led Kirkwood with 12 kills. Morgan Grimm had eight kills, Erica Armstrong seven, Margaret Micka five, Caiti Peterson five and Riley Longden four. Peterson had 31 assists.

Jenna Laxton led the Eagles with 15 digs. Miner had seven blocks.

Kirkwood played the tournament without Madsy Richards, the MVP of the ICCAC conference this season who suffered a knee injury at the regional tournament.

KCC volleyball eyes 7th at nationals

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The Kirkwood women's volleyball team will be hoping to finish seventh at the NJCAA Division II national tournament for the second straight year when they face Coffeyville Saturday morning at the Charleston Civic Center.

The Eagles lost to Sauk Valley, 3-1, in a consolation match Friday, giving them a 1-2 record in the tournament so far.

Kirkwood won the first game, 25-23, but Sauk Valley captured the next three games 25-13, 27-25, 25-19.

Margaret Micka and Alex Miner led the Eagles with 13 kills. Erica Armstrong had 10 kills and Alexa Whipple had eight.

Caiti Peterson finished with 48 assists for Kirkwood. Jenna Laxton led the Eagles in digs with 15. Armstrong blocked five shots.

Kirkwood's record fell to 33-10.

The Eagles have been playing without Madsy Richards, the conference MVP this season who is sidelined with a knee injury suffered in the regional tournament.

Eagles denied at national volleyball meet

CHARLESTOWN, W.Va. - The Kirkwood Eagles got off to a good start in the quarterfinals of the national volleyball tournament Thursday afternoon, but they ended up losing a tough five-set match to Lincoln Land.

Kirkwood grabbed the first two games, 25-21, 25-22, but Lincoln Land trimmed the Eagles in the third game 26-24 to get back in the match. Lincoln Land took the last two games, 25-20 and 15-10, for the 3-2 victory.

Kirkwood will face Sauk Valley in a consolation match Friday at 1:30. The Eagles are still in contention for fifth place in the 16-team tournament.

Alex Miner led Kirkwood with 15 kills against Lincoln Land. Erica Armstrong and Morgan Grimm had 11 kills apiece and Margaret Micka had nine kills.

Caiti Peterson collected 53 assists for the Eagles. Grimm had 23 digs and Peterson finished with 22 digs. Armstrong blocked five shots.

Kirkwood began the tournament with a 3-0 victory over McHenry County Thursday morning.

The Eagles are playing without Madsy Richards, one of their top players who was named the Player of the Year in the ICCAC conference this season. Richards is sidelined with a knee injury.

The top four seeds have reached the semifinals of the national tournament Friday, with No. 1 Parkland facing No. 4 Catawba and No. 2 Owens meeting No. 3 Lincoln Land.

Kirkwood was seeded No. 6.

The national tournament ends Saturday.

KCC wins opener at volleyball nationals

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The Kirkwood women's volleyball tournament swept McHenry County, 25-17, 26-24, 25-18, in the opening round of the NJCAA Division II national tournament at the Charleston Civic Center Thursday morning.

The sixth-seeded Eagles (33-8) face No. 3 seed Lincoln Land (38-8) in the quarterfinals Thursday at 4:30.

Alex Miner led Kirkwood with 11 kills. Erica Armstrong, Margaret Micka and Morgan Grimm had five kills apiece.

Caiti Peterson furnished 24 assists and led the Eagles with 11 digs. Alexa Whipple had 10 digs, Grimm nine, Jenna Laxton nine and Micka seven.

Armstrong blocked eight shots, Grimm blocked seven and Miner blocked six.

Kirkwood star Madsy Richards, who was named the top player in the ICCAC conference, did not play due to a knee injury suffered in the regional tournament.