NIACC opens season at OWT All-In Tournament

NIACC's Ella Barragy hits the ball over the net at a recent practice.

August 17, 2023

ROCKFORD, Ill. - The NIACC volleyball team opens the season this weekend at the OWT All-In Volleyball Tournament at the UW Sports Factory.

The Trojans, under 14th-year head coach Chris Brandt, face Ridgewater College at 1 p.m. Friday and also take on Lake Land College at 5 p.m. Friday.

On Saturday, the Trojans face Kellogg CC at 9 a.m. and Illinois Valley CC at 1 p.m.

NIACC returns seven sophomores from last season's squad, including sophomore captains Kennedy Schwiesow and Alyssa Wickersheim.

Wickersheim led the Trojans in ace serves last season with 68 and ranked third on the squad with 197 kills. She also contributed 167 digs and 28 blocks.

Schweisow was fourth on the team with 236 digs and also added 25 ace serves.

Other returning sophomores for the Trojans are Jaida Hansen, Saige Sullivan, Abbie Hyde, Ella Barragy, Iwalani Beltran, and AnnMarie Peters.

Hansen had 126 kills and 56 blocks during her freshman season.

NIACC notes: Brandt is 0-1 against Ridgewater College ... The Trojans dropped a 3-1 decision to Ridgewater in the 2010 season ... This will be Brandt's first-ever matches against Lake Land College, Kellogg CC and Illinois Valley ... This is the fourth straight fall season the Trojans have opened their season in Rockford, Ill. The Trojans were 1-3 at the season-opening tournament in 2022 and 2021 and 4-0 in 2019.