Stars volleyball team sweeps Kellogg

By Michael Leek
Sports Editor

The LCC volleyball team continued its impressive win streak with a home victory on Thursday, Oct. 5 against Kellogg Community College.

On Sept. 12, KCC had given the Stars their only conference loss, beating them 3-2 in a close match. The Stars returned the favor Oct. 5 by beating Kellogg 3-0. This pushed the Stars’ conference record to 6-1 and overall record to 21-2.

LCC won the first set 25-12, the second set 25-15 and the final set 25-19.

During the final set, LCC Coach Emily Quintero called a timeout and had some words for the team to close out the game.

“We need to contain our focus and continue to push on the gas,” Quintero told the team. “We can’t let up and we have to finish.”

Sophomore Ella Didion spikes the ball over a Kellogg defender on Oct. 5.  Photo by Kaitlyn Delaney

The Stars were clicking on both defense and offense this match, finishing with 51 digs and scoring a total of 44 kills. Freshman setter Karsyn Near assisted on 41 of the kills.

Sophomore Ellie Robinson led the Stars with 11 kills. Sophomore Danika Fyan was next with 10 kills. Freshman Anna Hoch finished with nine kills and sophomore Ella Didion had eight for LCC.

Sophomores Macey Beyerlein and Emily Homrock led the Stars’ defense with 12 digs each. Fyan had a team-high four blocks.

The Stars’ energy was high all through the match. Didion said it starts with their pre-game ritual.

“We listen to music sometimes to get hyped up and in our huddles we honestly talk about staying energized,” Didion said. “It’s really a mental thing.”

Didion finished the game with eight kills, but she said finding the gaps was not easy for her in the beginning.

“It’s definitely a learned skill,” Didion said. “I wasn’t good at it starting, but you just go up and kind of have to learn on the fly.”

LCC volleyballs Ella Didion (10) and Anna Hoch attempt a block Oct. 5.  Photo by Kaitlyn Delaney

The next match for the Stars is on the road Tuesday, Oct. 10 against Kalamazoo Valley Community College.

Going into the next match, Coach Quintero said there are things the Stars can continue to work on.

“We can always improve on consistency through the game (and) our serve receive,” Quintero said. “I think those are the two biggest ones.”