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Team in white jerseys after 5-set win against Heartland
Posted: Aug 22, 2022

Roadrunners go 5-1 in Opening Weekend Tournament

It took just three days for the SMC volleyball team to find the top of the MCCAA Western Conference standings.

After falling in three sets to #5 Sauk Valley in their first match on Friday at the Opening Weekend Tournament in Rockford, Illinois, the Roadrunners found their footing in the second match against Roane State, last year's NJCAA Region VII champions, beating the Raiders 3-2.

The Roadrunners didn't lose again during the weekend, sweeping three matches against Illinois Valley, Lake County and Kankakee, winning 10 sets in a row at one point. The final match against Highland was a thriller, with the Roadrunners prevailing 21-25, 27-25, 25-15, 21-25, 16-14.

"This team can literally do anything they set their minds to. They have been together three weeks today and went 5-1 their opening weekend," said SMC Coach Jenny Nate. "We have some incredibly intense, talented players, and when they work together, they are a blast to coach and watch play. They have learned to finish sets and win together, and today, I really saw them develop grit. In our final match against a tough Highland team, we were actually down 14-12 and came back and won 16-14. It has taken all 15 players on our roster to have such an incredible start."

Nikki Nate (Niles) and Faith Rankin (Battle Creek Lakeview) had a huge Sunday at the net with 30 kills apiece. The two also combined for eight blocks. Nate also contributed five points, an ace and 21 digs. Rankin finished with 17 points, three aces and 22 kills.

Edwardsburg's Shayla Shears added 19 kills and six blocks, while Bianca Hobson (Kalamazoo Loy Norrix) finished with 14 kills, four blocks, 17 points, a team-high seven aces and 19 digs.

Niles' Emma Beckman had 83 assists, eight points and an ace. Cadence Knight, also of Niles, finished with team highs in points (28) and digs (35). She also had four aces in Sunday's action.

The Roadrunners keep running on Tuesday night, August 23, when they travel to Muskegon to battle the 3-1 Jayhawks in Bartels-Rode Gymnasium at 6:30 pm.