LLCC Advances To Final Four at Nationals

The Lincoln Land Community College volleyball team celebrate.

Lincoln Land Community College came from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Kirkwood Community College to advance to the Final Four for the second consecutive season, raising the team's record to 39-8.

The Loggers were led by their defense in the match by Kendall Knop (Stewardson-Strasburg), Kaylee Beekman, and Izzy Carroll who each tallied more than 25 digs, as well as Kiersten Anderson's triple-double. Knop finished with 34 digs and had two aces.

"We're a team that kills coaches," Coach Jim Dietz laughed.  "Coach Sinkus was like 'Whew, I'm dead,' and that's someone with me on the bench.  But again, we've had so many matches go five games, that once it went five, we got comfortable."

In game five, LLCC built a quick lead, extending it to seven and wasn't challenged. The Loggers won 21-25, 22-25, 26-24, 25-20, 15-10.

"The best part is that as a program, it is back-to-back Final Fours.  For the freshmen, they came here to be part of a winning program, to have the challenge of going to Nationals, and now they get to enjoy it.  I'm just really happy for them."

Earlier, Lincoln Land Community College defeated Metropolitan Community College-Longview (Missouri). The third-seeded Loggers beat No.14 seed MCC-Longview 25-19, 25-19, 22-25, 25-21 in a first-round morning match at the Charleston Civic Center.

The Loggers play second-seeded Owens (Ohio) in the semifinal round at 5:30 p.m. Friday. Owens has a 16-match win streak and 40-4 record.

The other semifinal has defending national champion and top-seeded Parkland (50-2) against No. 4 seed Catawba Valley (41-5).