Kirkwood Community College - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

No. 7 Eagles roll past Triton, 77-49

Kirkwood Coach Kim Muhl likes his team and thinks they can do good things this season, but he was not happy with the way the seventh-ranked Eagles played in their 77-49 victory over Triton in the opening round of the

Kirkwood Classic at Johnson Hall Friday night.

"Selfish. Very selfish," he said after the easy win.

Kirkwood (5-0) shot only 33.3 percent from the field and collected only 17 assists, two of the stats that displeased the head coach. And that wasn't all.

"They didn't guard, they didn't get back defensively," he maintained. "They were going through the motions. It's not good enough. And they'll get beat. We have a good team, but they'll get beat in a big game."

The Eagles have already knocked off three ranked teams this season with verdicts State Fair (No. 18 in Division I), Parkland (No. 8 in Division II) and Illinois Central (No. 11 in Division II). Muhl thinks those three impressive victories may have contributed to the lackluster performance against Triton.

"I like this group. They're good kids," he said. "But everyone gets a little cocky when you're 4-and-0. Basketball, like any sport, is a humbling experience really quick."

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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.

No. 1 Kirkwood men trim Marshalltown

MARSHALLTOWN - The Kirkwood men's basketball team claimed a good victory on the road Wednesday night.

Byron Harp scored 22 points and collected six assists as the top-ranked Eagles trimmed Marshalltown, 78-75, in Marshalltown.

Kaliph Fagan gave Kirkwood the lead for good in the see-saw contest, 75-74, with a basket with 58 seconds remaining.

Marshalltown missed a shot, Kirkwood missed a shot and Marshalltown missed again. Kirkwood guard Miles Wentzien was fouled with three seconds left and made both free throws for a 77-74 lead.

Harp committed a foul to prevent Marshalltown from launching a 3-point shot that could have tied the game. Marshalltown made a free throw with one second left to draw within 77-75.

The Tigers missed the second free throw on purpose, hoping to get the rebound and a put-back to tie the score, but Fagan grabbed the defensive rebound and was fouled. He made one free throw for the final score.

Carlo Marble scored 13 points for Kirkwood. Fagan finished with 12 points and Da'Rion King had 11.

Jamir Coleman led Marshalltown with 26 points.

Both teams have 4-1 records.

KIRKWOOD (78): Harp 6 9-11 22, Wentzien 2 4-4 9, Fagan 5 1-2 12, Marble 5 0-0 13, D.King 5 1-1 11, Triplett 2 0-0 4, Jackson 2 0-0 4, Meeker 1 0-3 2, C.King 0 1-2 1, Henry 0 0-0 0, Moore 0 0-0 0. Totals 28 16-23 78.

MARSHALLTOWN (75): Mensah 1 3-6 5, Thiam 6 2-2 16, Millard 3 0-0 7, Coffi 1 2-2 4, Simmons 4 4-4 12, Mozee 0 0-0 0, Coleman 8 7-7 26, Hauser 1 0-0 2, Gradwell 1 0-0 3, Karadan 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 18-21 75.

Halftime - Marshalltown 36, Kirkwood 30. 3-point goals - Kirkwood 6 (Marble 3, Harp 1, Wentzien 1, Fagan 1), Marshalltown 7 (Coleman 3, Thiam 2, Millard 1, Gradwell 1).

Hansen signs with North Dakota State

Maddie Hansen, an All-American catcher for the Kirkwood softball team, has signed a national letter-of-intent with North Dakota State.

Hansen hit .455 with 20 home runs and 93 RBIs for the Eagles last season. She ranked third in the nation in RBIs and finished seventh in home runs in NJCAA Division II.

Hansen was a prep star at Cedar Rapids Jefferson. She originally planned to attend Ball State after one year at Kirkwood, but changed her mind and returned to Kirkwood for a second campaign.

Hansen is the fifth member of the 2017 Kirkwood softball team to pick a college. Taylor Nearad, the junior college Player of the Year in 2016, has signed with Iowa State. Lexi Ferrari will be headed to Missouri Southern, Morgan Frost to Missouri Western, and Lexi Kinnaird to Wisconsin-Green Bay.

No. 1 Eagles sail by Black Hawk, 98-55

The top-ranked Kirkwood Eagles popped in six 3-pointers in the first nine minutes Saturday and coasted to a 98-55 victory over Black Hawk College at Johnson Hall.

Miles Wentzien began the barage with a pair of triples, then Ethan Meeker, Carlo Marble and Al'Tavius Jackson followed with 3-pointers of their own and Meeker added another to make it 25-4.

Kirkwood hit eleven 3-pointers in the game and cruised to victory. Wentzien and Meeker finished with three apiece.

Coach Bryan Petersen thinks the Eagles could be proficient from 3-point range this season.

"We're starting to see it a little bit more," he said after Kirkwood raised its record to 3-1. "Our biggest thing is, we have to take really good ones. If we take really good ones, I trust our shooters a lot and believe we'll be able to make shots this year.

"The biggest thing is, if the guys see the ball go in they get a little confidence. It's starting and hopefully that will continue in the next few games."

Wentzien led Kirkwood with 19 points and nine rebounds. Da'Rion King muscled in 17 points and Meeker scored 13.

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KCC women top another ranked foe

EAST PEORIA, Ill. - The Kirkwood women's basketball team made it 2-for-2 in the Illinois Central tournament Saturday with two straight victories over two ranked opponents.

The seventh-ranked Eagles defeated No. 11 Illinois Central, 59-45, on the second day of the tournament as Simone Goods collected 18 points, nine rebounds, five blocks, three steals and two assists.

Kirkwood (4-0) beat No. 8 Parkland College, 84-54, in the opening round Friday.

Awal Ajak and Shaneequah Watkins scored 12 points apiece Saturday for the Eagles.

KIRKWOOD (59): Harris 3 1-5 8, Wilson 0 0-0 0, Axcell 0 0-0 0, Ajak 4 3-4 12, Taylor 0 0-0 0, Watkins 5 0-3 12, Voss 0 0-0 0, Goods 6 6-6 18, Usher 3 0-0 8, Achenbach 0 1-2 1. Totals 21 11-20 59.

ILLINOIS CENTRAL (45): Mital 0 0-0 0, Terrell 0 0-0 0, Walker 3 0-0 6, Henson 1 2-6 5, Fier 1 4-8 6, Jacques 1 0-0 2, Maynard 2 1-2 5, Burgard 3 7-9 13, Meiss 1 3-4 5, Larsen 1 0-2 3, Lyons 0 0-0 0, Elliott 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 17-33 45.

Halftime - Kirkwood 35, Illinois Central 14. 3-point goals - Kirkwood 6 (Watkins 2, Usher 2, Harris 1, Ajak 1), Illinois Central 2 (Henson 1, Larsen 1).

No. 7 KCC women rip No. 8 Parkland by 30

EAST PEORIA, Ill. - The seventh-ranked Kirkwood women's basketball team rolled by No. 8 Parkland, 84-54, Friday in the first round of the Illinois Central tournament.

Simone Goods powered in 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead the Eagles (3-0). Awal Ajak added 11 points for Kirkwood.

Seven Eagles made a 3-pointer in the ballgame as Kirkwood shot well from the field.

KIRKWOOD (84): Harris 3 0-2 6, Wilson 2 0-0 5, Puok 0 0-0 0, Hedges 1 0-0 3, Axcell 2 2-2 8, Schmidt 2 0-0 6, Ajak 4 1-1 11, Taylor 0 0-0 0, Watkins 2 0-0 4, Voss 4 0-0 9, Cotton 0 0-0 0, Wilson 0 0-0 0, Goods 11 1-3 23, Usher 3 0-0 7, Achenbach 1 0-0 2. Totals 35 4-8 84.

3-point goals - Axcell 2, Schmidt 2, Ajak 2, Wilson 1, Hedges 1, Voss 1, Usher 1.