By: Dana Becker
Messenger Sports Staff
The latest chapter in the Iowa Central-Kirkwood volleyball rivalry belonged to the Eagles here Wednesday night.
Behind strong play at the net, sixth-ranked Kirkwood secured a sweep over the ninth-ranked Tritons inside Hodges Fieldhouse.
Scores were 25-23, 25-18 and 25-19.
The two teams have held the top spots in the ICCAC race over the last five seasons, with Iowa Central (10-2 overall, 1-1 in conference) earning five straight league crowns. Now, though, they will be the hunter to the Eagles.
"Our girls are sad and disappointed with the loss," ICCC head coach Sara Horn said. "But they understand it is only September 6 and we have a lot of volleyball yet to be played.
"While it would have been nice to have this marquee matchup later in the season, I think on the flip side of it, we can use this as a measuring point."
Neither side earned much of an advantage through the first set, exchanging the lead several times before Kirkwood (10-1, 2-0) received kills from Emma Cross and Makayla Howard to close it out.
In the second, the Eagles took control with a 10-3 run to start, building a 22-12 lead at one point before closing things out. The third and final set went much the same way, as Kirkwood broke a 12-12 tie with a 13-7 rally for its 10th consecutive win of the season.
"We had to many errors," Horn said. "We've got to clean that up and I know we will. I know we'll play better after this because these girls are determined to do just that."
Manson Northwest Webster grad Olivia Sturgis and Natalie Hagadon led the Tritons with eight kills each while Noemia Chiacchio and Emma Bilhimer each had seven.
Mercedes Madlock, Araya Garrison and Leah Jolly chipped in with two.
Former St. Edmond standout Mya McClain had a team-high 19 digs, Madlock registered 33 assists with four aces and Fort Dodge Senior High grad Alexis Hiracheta had 15 digs.
The Eagles held a just 40-36 edge in kills but committed nine less attacking errors on the night. Cross finished with 12 kills, Howard had 11 and Alyssa Tegeler added six.
Iowa Central returns to action on Friday when they travel to face John Wood. The next home game is set for Thursday, Sept. 21 vs. Des Moines Area.