ROCKFORD, Ill. – No. 2 Parkland volleyball swept through four more matches on Saturday, completing a perfect 8-0 opening weekend without dropping a set. The Cobras defeated Lake Land (25-17, 25-14, 25-15), Joliet (25-14, 25-12, 25-7), Madison (25-16, 25-7, 25-10) and Oakton.
The Cobras were again dominant on Saturday, winning sets by an average of 12.6 points and hit a combined .359 over the four games.
Starting the day off with a sweep of Lake Land, Cobras setter
Rachel Verdun recorded her first double-double of 2019 with 17 assists and 12 digs. Outside hitter
Ryleigh Warfel nearly notched her first double-double of the season as well, earning nine kills on 15 errorless swings while digging out 16 Lake Land attacks, but it was
Abigail Burnett who's 12 kills led the team.
Summerlyn Smith's 16 assists and
Brooke Norder's team-leading 18 digs highlighted the remaining Cobra performances.
In game two of the day, freshman middle blocker
Katie Kaiser led the attack with nine kills on 14 swings (.500 hitting percentage),
Mallory Bergbower and
Amanda Greening added seven kills each.
Summerlyn Smith set the table for the attack with 21 assists to lead the team, while
Maranda Day led the team in digs with nine.
The Cobras came back in match three with .492 hitting percentage, as
Abigail Burnett again led the team with 10 kills on 17 swings.
Ryleigh Warfel chipped in another eight, while
Rachel Verdun (16) and Smith (10) had double-digit assists. Newcomers
Paige Yoder and Reanne Allen each recorded five stuffs and six kills, and
Isabella Classen dug out 12 Madison attacks to lead the team.
Wrapping up the weekend, Parkland swept Oakton in the Saturday nightcap by holding their opponent to just eight points in the first two sets.
Gabby Wessels (nine kills) and
Kayla Brandon (eight kills) led the offensive attack off the help of 28 assists from Smith. Wessels also contributed defensively with 17 digs, while
Hannah Benson earned seven blocks to lead the Cobras at the net.
Up next, Parkland will host No. 12 Lincoln Land in their regular season home opener on Wednesday, August 28, at 6 p.m. central time.
