By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Toledo, OH---The No. 4-ranked Express captured their 15th straight win Wednesday against conference opponent Lakeland Community College 25-8, 25-4, 25-14.
The win moves their record to 20-1 overall and 6-0 in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC). Their only loss this year is to the currently No. 2-ranked Oakland Community College on Aug. 30.
The Express set a match high for aces as a team this season with 15. Molly Hilfinger (Anthony Wayne/Whitehouse, Ohio) and Julia Haupricht (Central Catholic/Toledo, Ohio) each had four, while Emily Crowell (Parkway/Rockford, Ohio) had 3.
Brittany Egbert (Hopewell-Loudon/Fostoria, Ohio) led the team in kills with 10, while Haupricht had 8. Erin Schatzle (Monroe/Monroe, Mich.) led the team in assists with 15, while Hilfinger had 14.
Alyssa Pelish (Central Catholic/Toledo, Ohio) led the team in digs with seven, while Hilfinger had six. It was the first time this season that Ellie Comes (Sylvania Southview/Toledo, Ohio) did not lead the team in digs; she finished with four.
Whitney Hoodlebrink (Eastwood/Pemberville, Ohio) had one solo block, while Schatzle and Egbert each had one assisted block.
Before the match, Crowell was named the OCCAC Player of the Week for the week ending Sept. 18. In two conference matches, she had 15 kills, one ace, two assists, 12 digs and three assisted blocks. Additionally, Crowell's fine play helped the Express move up one spot in the NJCAA Division II poll to No. 4, which is the highest ranking for the Express volleyball program since Oct. 1, 2002 when the team was No. 3.
The Express will now travel to Champaign, Ill., on Friday-Saturday to take part in the Parkland Invitational. On Friday, the Express will play NJCAA Division I No. 25-ranked John A. Logan College at 6 p.m. before playing NJCAA Division III No. 10-ranked Rock Valley College at 7:45 p.m. On Saturday, Owens will play Southwestern Illinois College at 1:15 p.m. and NJCAA Division II No. 7-ranked Kirkwood C.C. at 3 p.m.