LC Women's Volleyball Sweeps Crosstown Classic

[September 25, 2018] 

Last weekend, the Lincoln College Women’s Volleyball program hosted its first multi-team home event as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The event, which has been named the Crosstown Classic, was co-hosted by Lincoln Christian University and featured six different teams competing in four matches each over the course of three days.

Lincoln College (11-8) won all four of its matches to extend the team’s winning streak to six in a row and push their overall record over .500 for the first time this year.

LC Head Coach Mark Tippett is happy with his team’s performance at this point in the season. “It took a little while for us to get everyone on the court and in the best position to be successful,” said Tippett. “But now that we have gotten healthy and more comfortable with each other on the court, things have begun to really click in.”

Lincoln began play in the Crosstown Classic on Thursday with a five-set win over Hannibal LaGrange University (25-19, 24-26, 25-20, 23-25, 16-14). On Friday, the Lady Lynx picked up two more victories by defeating Crowley’s Ridge College (NAIA) in four sets (25-17, 23-25, 25-13, 25-14) then taking down Monmouth College, an NCAA DIII opponent, in three sets (25-19, 27-25, 25-12).

Statistical leaders for the Lady Lynx on Friday included Kaylyn Hoffert (Lincoln) with 32 total kills, Mikayla Seibert (Mackinaw) recorded 23 kills and middle hitter Elysa Smith (Metamora) was good for 1l. Libero Megan Gilliam (Waterloo) totaled 40 digs while freshman defensive specialist Morgan Meyer picked up 34 digs in the two matches. The setting duo of Emma Derry (Augustana) and Lincoln Community High School grad Morgan Lolling accounted for 89 total set assists. Derry was responsible for 46 while Lolling accounted for 43.

Saturday saw Lincoln finish with a strong effort in a three-set sweep of Roosevelt University. In that match, LC controlled the pace of play in the first two sets to win them 25-19 and 25-15, but in set three Roosevelt did not go down without a fight. After Lincoln jumped out to an 11-5 lead, RU mounted a comeback and eventually tied the score at 21-21.

At that point, a Lincoln hitting error and two consecutive stuff blocks gave Roosevelt a 24-21 lead and their first set-point opportunity. RU lost the next volley on a hitting error which sent LC junior outside hitter Kaylyn Hoffert behind the service line. Hoffert used an accurate jump serve to disrupt the Roosevelt offense and force three more hitting errors by RU attackers which put LC up 25-24.

A kill by Roosevelt on the next volley extended the match. Another LC hitting error gave RU their second chance at set-point, but a strong kill down the line by Lincoln outside hitter Mikayla Seibert kept alive Lincoln’s hope to end the match in three sets. Defensive specialist Melanie Murray (Chicago) then entered the game to serve. Murray’s first serve ended in a kill by LC middle hitter Elysa Smith to give Lincoln another chance to end the match. On the next volley, a Roosevelt attack attempt sailed out of bounds to give Lincoln the win 28-26.

“We have developed a flare for the dramatic lately, but we keep finding ways to win close sets,” said Coach Tippett. “I think it shows well that when we do lose sets, they are close losses and we definitely do not give up or give much away.”

Lincoln is off until Thursday when they will hit the road for a match in Elgin, Illinois against Judson University.

[Mark Tippett
Lincoln College
Sports Information]