SEP 8, 2022

By:  DANA BECKER

The Messenger Sports Reporter

dbecker@messengernews.net

Sara Horn would be the first to admit her eighth-ranked (NJCAA Div. II) Iowa Central volleyball team is nowhere near where they want to be.

And that's fine by Horn.

With several new starters and ongoing work with a new attack, the Tritons were still able to take care of business here Wednesday night inside Hodges Fieldhouse by sweeping Southeastern.

Scores were 25-19, 25-18 and 25-20.

"We knew (Southeastern) was a much-improved team from a year ago," Horn said. "They have some really nice players and didn't make it easy on us.

"But that is good because we need to be tested because we have a really, really tough schedule coming up here against several top teams."

Iowa Central (11-2 overall, 2-0 in ICCAC) heads to Quincy, Ill. this weekend before returning home to face Ellsworth next Wednesday. From there, they return to Illinois with games against the likes of fifth-ranked Parkland and Lincoln Land before hosting No. 9 Hawkeye.

"We are going to have to play to the best of our abilities against those teams," Horn said. "We're still figuring things out, but we continue to show improvement."

Returning standout Katilyn Steffes, who was recently named the NJCAA offensive player of the week, led the way for the Tritons with 16 kills. She also had 12 digs, an ace and two block assists.

Jori Hajek, a sophomore from Humboldt, added 12 kills, 13 digs, three assists, two aces and two block assists, while Brooke Dobson had nine kills. Deni McDaniel, another former Wildcat, recorded 23 assists, four aces and nine digs.

"A number of players really stepped up," Horn said. "That's what you need to have happen. When someone might be off their game a little, you need someone to step in and have a big performance.

"Brooke and Jori each did that, along with several others."

Mercedes Madlock had 17 assists, Kira Matthias 19 digs and Noemia Chiacchio six kills. As a team, the Tritons finished with 49 kills, 45 assists, nine aces, 65 digs and nine block assists.

"It's definitely still a work in progress," Horn said, "but we'll continue to work hard and we'll get there."

Michaelah Petrowiak had four kills and three digs, Leah Jolly had a kill and two block assists, Baylee Greene had two aces and four digs, and Humboldt's Marissa Kaufman an assist.

Over the last four years, Iowa Central has posted an overall record of 108-15, including a 47-5 mark at home. The Tritons have won each of the past four ICCAC regular season titles.

Iowa Central will play Marshalltown on Saturday at 1 p.m. and John Wood at 3 p.m.

Full article - https://www.messengernews.net/sports/local-sports/2022/09/tritons-sweep-southeastern-2/