Chargers Receive Votes in Latest NJCAA D2 Volleyball Rankings
Aaron Frey
Tuesday, September 18, 2018 2:05 PM
Athletics
Galesburg, IL
Despite a perfect 8-0 record in the past week and nine straight victories overall, the Carl Sandburg College volleyball team found itself on the cusp of cracking — but not in — the latest NJCAA Division II volleyball rankings, released Tuesday afternoon.
The Chargers (17-4 overall, 3-0 Arrowhead Conference), who haven’t lost since Sept. 1, were among “Others Receiving Votes” for the first time this season.
Sandburg last week stayed unbeaten in conference play with a four-set victory at home Tuesday against Illinois Valley, then picked up a nonconference sweep at Lincoln on Wednesday. The Chargers went on to rattle off six straight wins over the weekend at the Waubonsee Tournament, dropping just one set. Highlighting the weekend were victories over McHenry County in a rematch of last year’s Region IV tournament championship and host Waubonsee in a matchup of teams that came in on seven-match winning streaks.
Sandburg ranks in the top 10 nationally as a team in kills (second, 822), hitting percentage (fifth, .314), assists (third, 776), assists per set (10th, 11.41), aces (fifth, 157) and points (third, 1,100).
Leading the way for the Chargers has been a trio of West Prairie High School graduates in Cora Vyhnanek, Peyton Bowman and Hannah Thompson. Vyhnanek, a freshman setter, leads the nation in assists (720) and is fifth in assists per set (10.59). Bowman, a freshman middle hitter who picked up National Offensive Player of the Week honors to open her career, ranks second nationally in hitting percentage (.546), 12th in solo blocks (36) and 13th in kills (205). Thompson, a sophomore outside hitter, ranks 24th in kills (180) and 17th in aces (32).
Two other Sandburg sophomores are among national leaders entering play Tuesday. Outside hitter Josalyn Owens (Lincoln) is 15th in kills (203) and 24th in aces (30), and middle hitter Jordan Price (Fulton) is 17th in solo blocks (31) and 30th in aces (28).
The Chargers will go for their 10th straight victory at 6 p.m. Tuesday as they put their unbeaten conference record on the line at defending champion Sauk Valley.
NJCAA Division II Volleyball Rankings for Sept. 18