CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 2 Parkland volleyball team celebrated its graduating sophomores with a pair of sweeps on Wednesday, defeating Millikin (25-12, 25-27, 25-16) and Kankakee (25-8, 25-18, 25-12). Now 47-2 on the season, the Cobras will wrap up its regular season at home with two matches on Friday and Saturday.
 
Honoring its seven sophomores between matches, head coach Cliff Hastings celebrated the careers of Ashley King, Maddie Allen, Maggie Sorenson, Sidney Heck, Katelyn Riffle, Shelby Nunamaker and Anita Jenkins on Wednesday evening. With the two wins on Wednesday, the seven sophomores are combined 97-5 so far in their time at Parkland.
 
As a team, Parkland hit .298 between the two matches with setter Rachel Verdun leading the way with her 16^th double-double in the win over Millikin and the sophomore trio of Maddie Allen (11 kills, 9 blocks), Shelby Nunamaker (10 kills, 5 blocks) and Sidney Heck (9 kills, 4 blocks) keying the win against Kankakee.
 
No. 2 Parkland 3, Millikin JV 0 (25-12, 25-17, 25-16)
 
With 18 Cobras seeing playing time in the opening victory of the day, Parkland spread the ball around throughout the match as 11 different Cobras recorded a kill. Aided by setter Rachel Verdun's 21 assists, four attackers tallied at least five kills, led by outside hitter Gabby Wessels with seven. Amanda Greening and Katelyn Riffle each chipped in six, while middle blocker Dakota Harmon added five. On the defensive end, Brooke Norder tallied 15 digs in just two sets, while Maggie Sorenson (11) and Verdun (10) also reached double figures. The 21 assists and 10 digs for Verdun mark her 16^th double-double of the season.
 
No. 2 Parkland 3, Kankakee 0 (25-8, 25-18, 25-12)
 
After being recognized for all their accomplishments and hard work over the past two years, the sophomores shined in Parkland's second sweep of the day. Allen, Nunamaker and Heck combined for 30 of the team's 37 kills, set up by Ashley King's 34 assists, and 18 blocks. Defensively, Maggie Sorensen led the team in digs (11), Anita Jenkins served up a pair of aces and Katelyn Riffle totaled five blocks.
 
Hitting .347 as a team, the Cobras finished above .300 in two of their three sets and totaled 15 blocks. The 15 stuffs are just two blocks shy of the team's season high of 17 back on October 5 at Des Moines Area Community College. The 10 aces by the Cobras marked the 11^th time this season the team has served up double digit aces.
 
Up next, Parkland will close out the 2018 regular season by hosting its second weekend tournament of the season. The Cobras will play four matches during the two-day tournament, playing at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Friday night and 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Saturday morning.
 
Postseason play begins next Wednesday, October 31, when the Cobras host the Region 24 semifinal match at 6 p.m.