Lady Cardinals take third at McKendree Tournament

By MATT KING/Daily Journal Sports Writer

LEBANON, IL - The Mineral Area College Volleyball team played its second two-day tournament in as many weekends at McKendree College. The Lady Cardinals did not win the title that they were in search of, but still delivered a solid performance by winning five of six matches played.

On Friday, MAC swept through pool play with a perfect 3-0 mark, dropping only one game along the way. The Lady Cardinals overcame a slow start against the host school's J.V. squad to dominate the final two games for a 27-30, 30-9, 15-6 victory.

Mineral Area took down Region XVI rival Three Rivers in its second match by a 30-22, 30-25 final count, before getting past Kaskaskia 30-27, 30-22 in the finale of day one to earn a high seed for the bracket portion of event.

John Wood College was the first victim on Saturday for the Lady Cardinals, who scored a 30-15, 30-27 triumph. Fort Scott proved to be a much tougher opponent in the next round by rallying from a large deficit in game two to even the match. However, MAC pulled through in the decisive third game for a 30-17, 31-33, 15-12 win.

An overall six-match winning streak ended for the Lady Cardinals against a tough Vincennes squad in the finals. Vincennes took down Mineral Area in two games, 30-28, 30-24 before going on to win the tournament.

"I thought our team did a pretty good job this weekend," said MAC coach Tim Copeland. "We were much better at blocking than we were last weekend, and our defense continues to be our strength."

Monica Jaroszewicz ripped 46 kills and served 12 aces over the duration of the tournament. Tiara Boyer knocked down 35 kills and Cassidy Wisdom collected 28. Jennifer Gabrian dished out 140 assists and served eight aces.

Dig leaders on the MAC defense were Wisdom with 75, and Jessica Murdick with 72. Murdick also served eight aces, while Boyer and Gabrian made 46 and 45 digs, respectively. Lora Dickey played a strong tournament at the net with 14 solo blocks, while assisting on 10 others.

Mineral Area (9-3) will face a challenge on Tuesday night against a very strong Jefferson College club. Coach Copeland worked as an assistant Jefferson before being hired to lead the Lady Cardinals.