Rock Valley, Sauk Valley take different paths to Region 4 championships
MADISON, WISC. - The two 2023 NJCAA Region 4 Division II Midwest District A & B Women's Volleyball Tournament champions reached their pinnacle in two very different ways. Sauk Valley Community College and Rock Valley College survived their respective tournaments to claim the District A and District B titles on November 5. For both teams, it was their first region banner since 2021, and in the case of the Golden Eagles, their first in Division II. Jay Howell of the Skyhawks and Kristy Pierce of RVC were awarded Region 4 Coach of the Year honors.
The #4-seeded Sauk Valley Community College began the District B Tournament with a sweep over #13-seed Kankakee Community College (25-9, 25-19, 25-12), but the rest of their tournament was anything but a clean sweep. The Skyhawks task required defeated both of the 2022 champions, starting with a five-set thriller in the semifinals over #5-seeded McHenry County College (25-12, 18-25, 21-25, 25-23, 15-11). In the championship, they broke a 1-1 tie with a pair of closely fought sets wins in the third and fourth for a 25-20, 12-25, 25-23, 25-20 victory against #1-seeded Moraine Valley Community College (19-8). Lacey Eissen of SVCC finished with 18 kills and 13 digs against the Cyclones, while Ava Wight had 16 digs as both were named to the Region 4 Midwest District A All-Tournament Team.
Rock Valley College's journey to the top came with a much smoother route. The #3-seeded Golden Eagles swept #14-seed South Suburban College (25-6, 25-7, 25-11) in the quarterfinals and #6-seed Carl Sanburg College (25-16, 25-22, 25-14) in the semifinals. It set up a season-long rubbermatch with #2-seeded Madison College on the WolfPack's home court. Trailing late in the first set, RVC won 11 of the final 13 points to claim the opening set and seize momentum for the remainder of the match with a 25-20, 25-19, 25-14 decision. Aaliyah Bulter posted ten kills, Bria Johnston added six kills and ten digs, and Maisie Green finished with nine kills and five blocks en route to the trio earning spots on the Region 4 Midwest District B All-Tournament Team.
Rock Valley College (26-11) and Sauk Valley Community College (23-15) each earned automatic berths into the 2023 NJCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, from November 15-18. The Golden Eagles were awarded the #16 seed and a first round match on November 15 against #17-seeded North Dakota State College of Science (25-8). The Skyhawks earned the #20 seed and will meet #13-seeded Gulf Coast State (19-5).
2023 Region 4 Division II All-Tournament Teams
Region 4 Midwest District A All-Tournament Team
Trenyce Bonner - Morton College
Valle Leggett - McHenry County College
Issy Nick - McHenry County College
Mary Zielinski - Moraine Valley Community College
Brooklyn Condon - Moraine Valley Community College
Ava Wight - Sauk Valley Community College
Lacey Eissen - Sauk Valley Community College
Region 4 Midwest District A Coach of the Year
Jay Howell - Sauk Valley Community College
Region 4 Midwest District B All-Tournament Team
Natalie Burden - Carl Sandburg College
Paige Siehr - Milwaukee Area Technical College
Courtney Gorum - Madison College
Addyson McHugh - Madison College
Maisie Green - Rock Valley College
Bria Johnston - Rock Valley College
Aaliyah Butler - Rock Valley College
Region 4 Midwest District B Coach of the Year
Kristy Pierce - Rock Valley College