Taking care of business in front of a home crowd, Allen County Community College’s Red Devils captured their home opening volleyball match of 2010.
Led by sophomore Nicole Rockhold, the Red Devils defeated visiting Longview Community College of Lee’s Summit, Mo. Allen County posted a 25-22, 22-25, 25-19, 25-17 victory.
“Nicole played a key role in the success we had Monday night. She executed at the net with 25 kills with only eight errors in her 59 attack attempts,” said Jessica Peters, ACCC head volleyball coach.
Not only that, Rockhold helped lead the Red Devils in defensive digs with 23. She also had one solo block and two assisted blocks at the net.
Freshman Nicole Reed made her presence felt on the back row. First, she served for 12 points and had three ace serves. Working the libero (defensive specialist) spot, Reed came up with 34 digs.
Reed had the first dig of the night which led to Rockhold’s first kill of the match. Reed then served up five points to put ACCC in front, which it stayed.
The first game tightened up down the stretch but the Red Devils never lost the lead. Erika Mack, a freshman, was at the service line for game point.
In the second game, the Longview Lakers won the nip-and-tuck contest, 25-22.
Allen County came back from a 12-9 deficit to tie the third game up. A kill by freshman Allison Jenicke made it 15-15 then she served two points. The Red Devils never trailed again.
Up 21-18, Mack had back-to-back ace serves. Reed served up an ace for the game winner at 25-19.
Coming off a seven-minute intermission, the Lakers appeared to have the upper hand. Longview’s middle hitter/blocker Melodye Church created some havoc at the net.
“We adjusted well at the net with only a few errors on our side because of lack of communication. Our blockers stepped up and I was impressed with the touches we got along with the overpass attacks,” Peters said.
Sophomore middle Andrea Miller had three block assists and six kills. Jenicke had seven kills and a solo block. Makhala Giardina, a freshman hitter, had eight kills and one solo block. Freshman Casey Droddy had an assist block.
Once Allen County got even with Longview, the Red Devils were able to gain energy to go up 15-11. Leading 23-17, Reed served and the Red Devils protected.
Rockhold pounded down a kill then Jenicke got her block for the match winner.
Mack ended up with 12 points served with three aces. Jenicke served up 10 points and had two aces.
Giardina and Rockhold each has six points served and one ace. Giardina put down eight kills and had 15 digs. Miller had six kills.
Droddy and freshman Karlee Bobbitt each had one service point. Droddy had five kills and 10 digs.
Mack led the setters with 25 assists. Bobbitt and Droddy each recorded 10 set assists.
Allen County (3-2) hosts Kansas City, Kan., Community College (3-1) at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. It’s the Red Devils’ Jayhawk Eastern Division opener.
The Red Devils will host Coffeyville and Northeastern Oklahoma in a triangular on Saturday.
Red Devils pound the Lakers
