Chargers Beat IVCC on Sophomore Night, 1 Win Away From Back-to-Back Conference Titles

GALESBURG — The Carl Sandburg College volleyball team moved one step closer to another Arrowhead Conference title with a 25-8, 23-25, 25-23, 25-17 Sophomore Night victory over Illinois Valley on Tuesday at John Lewis Gym.

The Chargers (24-10, 8-1) can clinch back-to-back conference crowns with a win Tuesday at Kishwaukee in their final league match. Sandburg will win the title outright if Sauk Valley loses its match at Highland. The Chargers and Skyhawks would share the championship with a Sauk Valley victory.

In Tuesday's victory against the Eagles, Addison DeSpain turned in a stellar performance in her final regular season home match. The sophomore tied for the team lead with 13 kills, added 13 digs and served five of the Chargers' nine aces in the match as Sandburg won for the 19th straight time on its home floor. DeSpain's outing was her 11th double-double this season.

The Chargers racked up nine straight points to open the match, including back-to-back DeSpain aces. After dropping the second set, Sandburg took the final three points of the third after falling behind 23-22. Lillian Isenhour's kill helped set up set point for the Chargers.

Sandburg's only deficit of the fourth set came at 2-1 before the Chargers won eight of the next nine for a 9-3 advantage. Freshman Ayla Cannon had a pair of kills and a block — one of seven (four solo) on the evening — during that stretch. Illinois Valley got within 19-16, but a Natalie Burden kill began a 6-1 spurt by the Chargers to close out the victory. Grace Evans put down a pair of kills during the closing run.

Burden hit .312 for the match and tied DeSpain for the team lead with 13 kills. Setter Grace Vyhnanek had 40 assists, three kills, an ace and three block assists in the win. Libero Madeline Mooney had 19 digs to pace Sandburg defensively, and Lauren Powell chipped in with 11 digs, her second-most this season.

The Chargers' six sophomores — DeSpain, Isenhour, Evans, Cristina Heras Marcos, AJ Rask and Ava Ruggles — were honored prior to the match for Sophomore Night.

UP NEXT FOR SANDBURG
Friday and Saturday at Iowa Central Triton Invitational 

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