By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Wisconsin Dells, Wisc.---The Owens Community College women's volleyball team split a pair of matches in the Battle for the Dells Invitational to open its regular season today.
Match 1: Owens d. Waubonsee 20-25, 25-20, 24-26, 26-24, 15-10
In their first match, the Express faced a 2-1 deficit to Waubonsee Community College, but fought back for a five set victory.
Three players led the way for Owens offensively by producing double digit kill totals, led by freshman Macy Reigelsperger's (Coldwater/Coldwater, Ohio) 16. Stephanie Kipp (Ida/Monroe, Mich.) added 12, while freshman Erika Hartings (Coldwater/Coldwater, Ohio) had 10. Overall, the team produced a .250 attack percentage, while another freshman Amara Hemenway (Bellevue/Bellevue, Ohio) chipped in nine kills.
At the net, Kipp's six blocks led the team, while Reigelsperger and Sara Turner-Smith (Cardinal Stritch/Toledo, Ohio) each had four. Aricka LaVoy(Eastwood/Pemberville, Ohio) produced three of the team's six aces.
Four players notched double figures in digs, led by Ciarra Wirick's (Benjamin Logan/West Liberty, Ohio) 21. LaVoy added 19, Reigelsperger had 15 and Jessica Cooper (Brandywine/Niles, Mich.) produced 10.
Cooper led the team in assists with 29, while freshman Deanna Smith(Riverview/Riverview, Mich.) had 27. That duo produced 56 of the team's 59 assists.
Waubonsee came in to the match ranked just outside the nation's top 20.
Match 2: No. 9 Des Moines Area d. Owens 26-24, 25-19, 23-25, 25-15
After a long, tough first match, the Express had no time off as they faced No. 9 Des Moines Area Community College. DMACC took advantage with a four set victory, although the Express attempted a comeback down 2-0.
Reigelsperger led the way offensively in the match with 11 kills. Although she was the only player to record double figure kills, fellow freshmanTaylor Purcell (Bedford/Temperance, Mich.) chipped in nine. Hemenway and Hartings each added seven kills.
Smith (26) and Cooper (17) led the team, as expected, in assists. They had 43 of the team's 48 in that category. Cooper added a team-high five aces, while her teammates added three more.
Reigelsperger, for the second straight match, not only led the team in kills, but digs as well. She finished with 18, while Cooper and Wirick each added 15. LaVoy added 12 and Smith had nine.
It was at the net where the Express saw its biggest drop off from the first match as the team totaled six blocks - compared to 23 in the first match. Against DMACC, Hemenway and Kayla Siefker (Kalida/Ottawa, Ohio) each led the way with two apiece.
Tomorrow's Action
The Express (1-1) will take on Southwestern Community College at 10 a.m. and Carl Sandburg College at 12 p.m. E.T. tomorrow to close out their action in the Battle for the Dells Invitational.