Illinois Institute of Technology Scarlet Hawks win first match in NACC postseason history
LISLE, Ill. (BVM) — Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) women’s volleyball won its first match in Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference (NACC) postseason history on Nov. 2 against Benedictine University.
The Scarlet Hawks joined the NACC in 2018 and this was their first appearance in the conference tournament. Coming in as the sixth and final seed, the Scarlet Hawks were viewed as the underdog playing on the road against the third-seeded Benedictine Eagles.
However, IIT grinded out a 3-2 win in a five-set thriller against Benedictine.
“It feels great,” IIT head coach Mark Johnston said. “I told the ladies that they deserve this.”
After dropping the first set 25-19 thanks to the Eagles’ runs of five, three and three points, the Scarlet Hawks won the second set after opening with a 4-1 lead, and taking the last six points to win, 25-23.
Tied at one set apiece, IIT began the third set consistently trailing by at least three points, until two rallies of three points each tied the set up at 11. A couple of aces, another three-point rally and mistakes by the Eagles assisted the Scarlet Hawks in capturing the third set, 25-17.
The Eagles bounced back and won the fourth set, 25-17.
The fifth and final set of the match began as an even fight with both teams scoring right after the other. After an Eagle timeout and tied at 11, the Scarlet Hawks earned four straight points to win both the set 15-11, and the match, 3-2.
Sophomore Briar Moore led the Scarlet Hawks with 18 kills and sophomore Kelsey Starnes led the team with 17 digs. Senior Justine Bracco rounded out the match with four blocks at the net.
The Eagles were led by senior Caroline O’Connor with 17 kills, freshman Courtney Levy with 25 digs and senior Yngride JeanPhillipe with nine blocks.
“We deserved to win this game,” Johnston said. “It came down to fight. This wasn’t the best game that we’ve played all year and that’s not our best volleyball by far, but I think our fight is just better than any others in the conference.”
The Scarlet Hawks face Concordia University Wisconsin Thursday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. CST in the semifinals.
“The first time we played them I felt really good,” Johnston said. “It just came down to execution. We didn’t execute the way that we wanted to but we’re going to have a game plan just like they will have a game plan. It’s nice that we get to see everybody for a second time now. My girls are going to be ready for it.”
