(Sugar Grove, IL.) – Waubonsee Community College's women's volleyball team squared off against Blackhawk Technical College from Janesville, Wisconsin, in the opening match for both teams in the Region 4 Crossover Tournament. The two-day tournament, featuring 13 junior colleges from across northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin, is being held at Waubonsee. The Chiefs (12-8) rolled to victory by topping the Talons (7-6) in three straight games 25-14, 25-20, and 25-14.

A running right-handed spike by Makayla McNally got the Chiefs on the board to start as the home team took an early 5-3 lead in the first set. An ace by Kailey Ramirez extended the lead to 9-4 as Waubonsee gradually pulled away. The Chiefs led by as many as seven points before the Talons dug in and cut the deficit to 13-9. Power kills by Ashley Collins and Adrianna Larsen turned the tide back in Waubonsee's favor. A service ace by Sarah Boness pushed the Chiefs' advantage to 20-11. Ramirez then tallied back-to-back aces to set up game point for Waubonsee. Lejla Dulan finished off the 25-14 victory with a smash from the right side.  

In game two Larsen registered a pair of aces and McNally booked a thunderous kill to help Waubonsee jump out to a 6-2 lead. Not long afterwards Ramirez recorded a kill and a violation on the Talons gave the Chiefs a commanding 13-4 lead. Blackhawk Tech then reeled off six points to pull within 15-10. But that is as close as the Talons would get as Waubonsee quickly built its lead back up to 20-12. The Chiefs appeared to be in complete control, but again the Talons clawed their way back to get within three at 22-19. Larsen then took over as she drilled a pair of kills and Collins finished off the set with an ace to secure a 25-20 win.

The third set began with another kill by Larsen and a dink return by McNally for a point as Waubonsee took an early 4-1 lead. However, back-to-back return errors by the Chiefs helped Blackhawk Tech pull even at 4-all. Waubonsee bounced back and won the next four points and quickly grabbed a 13-6 lead capped off by a kill by Larsen off an assist from Ramirez. A tandem block by McNally and Collins resulted in another point as Waubonsee went ahead 16-8. A power kill by Dulan extended the lead to 20-12 as the Chiefs moved closer to completing the sweep. A kill by Joey Wolgast with an assist by Larsen put an exclamation point on the 25-14 win.

Larsen finished with 10 kills, four aces and 11 digs to lead the way. Dulan added seven kills, Collins recorded 16 assists, Lexi Jacquez had 12 digs, and Ramirez chipped in with four aces and 11 assists. Coach Steve Kish's Chiefs are set to play Sandburg College later today at 3:00 p.m. Tomorrow, Saturday, September 20, the Chiefs are scheduled to play Black Hawk College from Moline at 9:00 a.m. Waubonsee closes out the two-day event by taking on Illinois Valley Community College at 5:00 p.m.