BELLEVILLE, Ill. – No. 4 Parkland volleyball swept each of its opening matches of the Southwestern Illinois College Tournament on Friday, taking down Southwestern Illinois College and Kaskaskia in straight sets. With the two wins, Parkland improves to 22-1 on the season.

SWIC Box Score | Kaskaskia Box Score
 
Opening its weekend against the tournament hosts, Southwestern Illinois College, the Cobras made quick work with a 25-18, 25-17, 25-17 sweep. Freshman Ryleigh Warfel and sophomore Maddie Allen led the Parkland offense with double-digit kills. Warfel scored 12 kills and added in 15 kills for her ninth double-double of the season, while Allen swung an efficient .625 to tally 11 kills. Freshman defensive specialist Brooke Norder led the Parkland defense with 25 digs.
 
After its originally scheduled match against Lewis & Clark was canceled, the Cobras faced Kaskaskia in its second, and final, match of the evening. Again winning in straight sets, Parkland won by at least nine points in each of the three sets behind a .256 hitting percentage. Spreading the ball around offensively, 10 Cobras registered a kill, led by nine from setter Rachel Verdun who also tallied 24 assists and 10 digs for a double-double. Freshman outside hitter Gabby Wessels was second on the team in kills with eight, while Maggie Sorenson led the defense with 17 digs.
 
Parkland volleyball will compete three more times on Saturday, as the Cobras face off against Lindenwood JV (9 a.m.), Millikin JV (1 p.m.) and St. Louis Community College (5 p.m.). The team will return home for its home opener on Tuesday, September 18, at 6 p.m. against Lewis & Clark before hosting a tournament next weekend, September 21-23.
 
Weekend Schedule:
 
Friday, September 14
Southwestern Illinois College: W, 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-17)
Kaskaskia: W, 3-0 (25-13, 25-16, 25-12)
 
Saturday, September 15
9 a.m.: Lindenwood JV
1pm: Millikin JV
5pm: St. Louis CC