The volleyball Stars are starting to shine.
By Brodee Gillam
Sports Editor
The volleyball Stars are starting to shine.
The LCC volleyball team triumphed over the Lake Michigan College Redhawks 25-16, 21-25, 26-24, 25-19 in the Gannon Gym on Tuesday, Oct. 18.
The victory put the Stars record at 12-19 and 8-6 in the MCCAA West. This put LCC in a position to determine its destiny.
If the Stars could win their games on Oct. 20 against Jackson College and Oct. 27 against Kalamazoo Valley Community College, they could advance into district play.
Sophomore Delaney Thompson, who had 16 kills, helped bring the Stars back into the match in the third set.
LCC went down 17-12to the Redhawks before Thompson served. She led the Stars to an 8-0 run to go up 20-17. The run gave LCC momentum that carried the team to the 26-24 set victory.
LCC Volleyball Head Coach Emily Quintero said the team's schemes up front, combined with Thompson's ability to change how she serves, sparked that run.
"It's how we have everything set up, with who goes in front row … and (the way) that she serves and it gives a different tempo of the game," Quintero said. "People don't expect the type of serve that she gives and she can change it up, which is the beauty of hers.
"So therefore I put a lot of focus and emphasis on, we need to win these points for our server, because we need to keep her serving."
Sophomore Addie Pickleman added 14 kills and freshman McKenzie Kench provided LCC with 11 kills and 15 digs of her own.
Kench struggled serving against Lake Michigan, serving into the net a few times. Quintero provided insight on the reasoning behind Kench's troubled serve.
"She has a very tough serve and for her to continue to perfect it and keep it consistent, it's very challenging," Quintero said. "She always works on taking a little speed off the ball, making sure it's consistently in the court. It was just one of those things that was harder for her to focus on that night.
"It's a phenomenal serve. It's very challenging for her to keep them in – it would be for anybody – so I am very proud of her for sticking with it. … It's awesome when it's in."