NIACC falls to No. 6 Kirkwood

CEDAR RAPIDS - The NIACC volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision to No. 6 Kirkwood on Tuesday in an ICCAC contest.

The Eagles (24-6 overall, 7-1 in the ICCAC) won 25-19, 25-12, 25-14.

"We started playing strong going point for point with a tough opponent," NIACC coach Chris Brandt said, "and then something switched and we started to hesitate.

"It's difficult to watch a team with this kind of talent not believing in what they are capable of doing. But just like any day, we are fortunate to have the opportunity to keep learning together."

Freshman Kit Byars led the Trojans with six kills. She also added one dig and one block.

NIACC's Kelly Miller and Ellie Hanna both had four kills and also added one dig each. Kennedy Schwiesow had 14 digs and one assist and Abbie Hyde had two digs and one assist.

NIACC's Iwalani Beltran had 11 assists, three ace serves and three digs. The Trojans' Emily Opstvedt had five assists and four digs, Alyssa Wickersheim had 11 digs and three kills and Zhane Singer had two kills.

NIACC (10-19, 1-7) returns to action Thursday at home against Iowa Lakes in an ICCAC contest. Match time is slated for 7 p.m. in the NIACC gym.