Kirkwood Volleyball

KCC volleyball team makes nationals

ESTHERVILLE - The Kirkwood women's volleyball team will be taking a trip to Arizona later this month, but it won't be for Thanksgiving vacation.

The 17th-ranked Eagles won the Region XI-B tournament in Estherville Saturday and qualified for the NJCAA Division II national tournament that will be held at Phoenix College from Nov. 19-21.

Kirkwood topped Iowa Central in five sets, 25-16, 25-21, 21-25, 21-25, 15-6, on a neutral floor at Iowa Lakes Community College.

The Eagles needed five sets to defeat Southwestern Community College in the regional semifinals at home Wednesday night and they went the distance again Saturday against Iowa Central after taking a 2-0 lead.

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Freshmen spark No. 17 Eagles to victory

Kirkwood volleyball coach Jill Williams has been waiting all season for her freshmen to click on the same night and help the Eagles win a big match.

It happened Wednesday night.

Freshman Morgan Grimm collected 25 kills and the 17th-ranked Eagles survived Southwestern, 3-2, in the dramatic semifinals of the Region XI-B tournament at Johnson Hall.

Grimm wasn't the only rookie to shine for Kirkwood. Madsy Richards, a Xavier grad, contributed 13 kills and 17 digs. Henna Laxton contributed 28 digs. Alex Miner blocked six shots and had three kills. And Erica Armstrong had four kills.

"Morgan Grimm was huge tonight," said Williams. "She put the ball away, she played defense, she had a couple of aces. She really picked it up."

The freshmen blended nicely with sophomores Halle Lueck and Erin Wenzel, who have led the team all season. Lueck, who ranks among the national leaders in assists, rolled up 49 more Wednesday. Wenzel had 11 kills and 13 digs.

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No. 17 Kirkwood volleyball team rolls

MARSHALLTOWN - The 17th-ranked Kirkwood volleyball team cruised to a 25-8, 25-9, 25-16 victory over Marshalltown on Thursday night in Marshalltown.

Morgan Grimm collected 10 kills for Kirkwood and Erin Wenzel had seven. Halle Lueck finished with 24 assists. Madsy Richards had nine digs. Wenzel and Erica Armstrong blocked four shots.

Kirkwood raised its record to 25-14.

Kirkwood has drawn the No. 2 seed for the Region XI-B tournament and will host No. 7 Southwestern at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the semifinals.

KCC volleyball swept by Indian Hills

The Kirkwood volleyball team was swept by Indian Hills, 25-11, 25-17, 25-14, in a junior college match Tuesday night at Johnson Hall.

Erin Wenzel led the Eagles with six kills and Brittni Wright had five. Halle Lueck had 16 assists and 11 digs.

Kirkwood fell to 25-14 for the season.