Dominance

Rick Schenck
Sports Writer

The LCC volleyball team continued its dominance at home Sept. 22 by sweeping Kellogg Community College, 25-12, 25-17, 25-15 in the Gannon Gym.

The Stars (4-0 MCCAA West, 11-6 overall) improved their winning streak to nine games.  LCC Head Coach Emily Quintero has her team headed in the right direction, sitting in first place with a one-game lead over second place Kalamazoo Valley.

"Tonight went well," Quintero said of the win over KCC. "We stuck to our guns; we definitely executed some plays that we were hoping to."

Much of LCC's early season success can be attributed to the presence of LCC sophomore Hannah Smith and freshman Addie Pickelman, who have dominated the front of the net. Smith ranks 19th nationally in Division II with 241 total kills.

"Addie and Hannah as our outsides have definitely been swinging away," Quintero added. "Addie with her serves has been huge for us."

The Lady Stars dominated from start to finish, leading wire-to-wire in the first two games. LCC was in the right place at the right time for the majority of the night, with its offense keeping Kellogg on its heels.

"It went very well," Pickelman said. "Our blocking was really good tonight. The hard hits really helped."

Kellogg was caught guessing on numerous occasions due to pinpoint strikes by Pickelman, Smith and others.

Quintero mentioned sophomore Meeshon Rogers as a player who waits patiently for her chance to impact the game.

"Meeshon Rogers is the one you kind of don't expect to swing at the ball and then she pounds it," she said.

In the final game of the night the Lady Stars stumbled out of the gates, falling victim to a few off-the-wall desperation plays by Kellogg and some miscommunication.

LCC tightened up and continued its bombardment of the Bruin defense, never letting its lead slip to less than six points.

Pickelman said the team is beginning to find a rhythm that has made it hard to beat.

"It's been kind of hard to get used to it but as we keep playing games I'm getting more comfortable," she said.

The Lady Stars were scheduled to travel to conference rival Muskegon CC on Thursday, Sept. 24, then were slated to play in the Grand Rapids CC Tournament on Sept. 26 & 27.

LCC will make its return to the Gannon Gym Tuesday, Sept. 29 to host the fifth-place Lady Red Hawks of Lake Michigan College.

Photo provided by Kevin Fowler/LCC photographer