CARTERVILLE -- It's been a great start to the fall season for the John A. Logan College volleyball team. The Volunteers improved to 4-0 in the Great Rivers Athletic Conference and to 7-2 overall Wednesday night with a straight-set win over visiting Rend Lake: 25-17, 25-13, 25-14.
Just how dominant has Logan been to date?
The Vols have yet to drop a single set in four league matches with Lake Land, Lincoln Trail, Southwestern Illinois and now Rend Lake. And unlike high school, matches are best-of-five at the collegiate level.
"I'm pretty excited with what I have seen so far," said ninth-year Vols head coach Bill Burnside. "This team has especially good chemistry. The girls have been a pleasure to coach."
Burnside said his squad does not have an abundance of size as only two players top the 6-foot mark, but it is a more athletic group than teams of recent years he has coached.
"The girls worked hard in the off season to get where we are today," Burnside said. "What I notice is that we are much better defensively because we get to more balls. We have gone from 11 digs a game a year ago to 16 this year. That's a big difference."
Against Rend Lake Wednesday, sophomore rightside hitter Ahnie Hoff of Perryville, Mo. led the Vols in kills with nine. Sophomore outside hitter Emily Burkitt (Christopher/Zeigler-Royalton grad) followed with six.
Sophomore middle hitter Brooke Hogard of Perryville and Hoff tied for most blocks with seven. Freshman setter Taytum Mordock of Woodlawn was tops in assists with 12.
Sophomore libero Carolyn Phoenix (Trico High grad) led in defensive digs with 14 and freshman outside hitter Kayla Grady of Nashville, Tenn. had the most service aces with three.
On the season, the Vols have outscored their opponents, 492-277. They also have recorded more kills, blocks, assists, digs and service points. Other team members include: sophomore middle hitter Cheyenne Pitchford (Sesser-Valier), sophomore middle hitter Jamie Hammond (Anna-Jonesboro), freshman rightside hitter Katie Moore of Pleasant Hill, freshman middle hitter Tatum Gaines of Jackson, Mo., freshman setter Shelbey Saye of Edwardsville and freshman middle hitter Kera Kiner of Sparta.
Logan will travel to Belleville this weekend to compete in a two-day tournament at SWIC against McKendree University, St. Louis Community College and Lewis and Clark College. The Vols finish the first half of the conference schedule next Wednesday at Centralia against Kaskaskia (3-1).
Burnside is assisted by third-year coach Jessica Whitehead, the former Murphysboro and SIU standout.
