LC Loses to Top Ranked Parkland in Four

[September 01, 2017]   The Lincoln College Women’s Volleyball team had their work cut out for them Wednesday evening as they traveled to Champaign to face the Parkland College Cobras. Parkland entered the match as the defending National Champions and is currently the top ranked team in Division II of National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).

The Lady Lynx managed to take one set from Parkland in the match, but fell hard in the other three for their second loss of the season. Parkland came out firing on all cylinders in the first set to win it 25-13. Lincoln regrouped and got off to a better start in set two. Their ability to side out effectively allowed them to maintain an early four-point lead up to a score of 18-14.

Parkland then took advantage of a Lincoln serving error and three quick points on blocks and hitting errors to tie the score at 18. Lincoln managed a side out on a cross court kill by freshman left side hitter Maddie Malinowski (Bloomington) to end the run.

The two teams then traded side outs up to a score of 27 all. At that point, a Lincoln side out was followed by a Parkland hitting error to give LC the win and new life in the match.

LC Coach Mark Tippet was pleased with the way his team responded in the second set. “We showed the ability to make adjustments and pick up our speed of play in set two,” said Tippett. “Parkland plays a very fast offense, and it was definitely a positive sign that we were able to compete with them.”

The momentum boost from winning set two was short-lived, however, as Parkland came out strong in set three and handed Lincoln a devastating 25-6 loss. Lincoln would not recover in set four, and fell 25-11.

In the match, LC (4-2) was led in kills by Malinowski with 10. Right side Megan Gillium (Waterloo) and left side Mikayla Siebert (Mackinaw) each had four kills, while setter Jenna Weller led the team with 11 set assists. The Lady Lynx were again without starting left side hitter Kaylyn Hoffert (Lincoln) who is out of the lineup with an ankle injury.

“I am looking forward to playing Parkland again in October at the Conference Tournament which we will host,” said Tippett. “Hopefully, we will have Kaylyn back in place and by then right side hitter Mattie Giese (Highland Park) will be eligible and we will be able to compete against them better with our full lineup.”

Next up for Lincoln will be a two-day event this weekend at the College of DuPage.

[Mark Tippett
Lincoln College
Sports Information]