March 11, 2021
NIACC falls to No. 6 Kirkwood, 3-0
MASON CITY - The NIACC volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision to No. 6 Kirkwood Thursday night in an ICCAC match.
Kirkwood (12-2 overall and 12-2 in the conference) won 25-19, 25-16, 25-23.
"The scoreboard definitely doesn't reflect all the positives we saw (Thursday)," NIACC coach Chris Brandt said. "The team has been working so hard on better communication and we moved much better together because of that effort."
NIACC (7-7, 7-7) was led by freshman Grace Tobin, who had 14 kills, seven digs and two ace serves. Sophomore Becca Steffen collected 28 assists with seven digs, three kills and two ace serves.
Steffen's two ace serves moved her into second place on the school's career ace serves list with 118. She moved past Kennedy Meister (2018-19), who now ranks third with 117. Amy Ask (2001-02) is the school's all-time leader with 136 career ace serves.
Also for the Lady Trojans, Samantha Coron had 15 digs and three kills, Emily Wittnebel had 17 digs, Halsie Keltner had nine kills and five digs, Emily Jacobson had three kills and Hannah Hanson had four kills and two blocks.
"We talk a lot about what it means to be part of the NIACC Volleyball family," Brandt said, "and (Thursday) our classy women won in many of those characteristics: sportsmanship, resiliency, perseverance just to name a few. We are so proud of these young women and excited to have another day on the court."
Kirkwood was led by Kate Kopriva and Emily Strauss with eight kills apiece. Rachael Nelson led the Eagles with 15 assists.
NIACC returns to action Sunday at Indian Hills in an ICCAC match, which starts at 1 p.m.
