Iron volleyball suffered their first Big 12 Conference loss on Oct. 8, falling to Normal West in a rematch of last year’s conference title game.

With the Iron 6-1 in conference play and the Wildcats 7-0, West is primed for their second straight conference title.

While Community defeated the Wildcats in two sets at the Intercity Tournament, a non-conference contest, Community suffered a two-set loss (25-21, 25-17) in the team’s second confrontation.

The added tension of the conference match, paired with the pressure of defending the Iron’s previous victory over the Wildcats, made Tuesday’s rivalry rematch more challenging.

The Iron’s performance, said junior Maggie Michaels, was impacted by that heightened pressure.

“We were very tense,” Michaels said, “and I definitely think [that] dictates how we play.”

While the 18-7 Iron find strength in their “scrappy” defense and ball control, its biggest asset is teamwork.

“We have a very good connection,” Michaels said, strong “team chemistry” that often translates to Community’s performance on the floor.

“When we come together and are playing for each other,” Michaels said, “rather than [playing with] anxiety, I think then we play a lot better.”

Even at the Iron’s best, the Ellie Rink-led Wildcats are a formidable foe—the team is ranked No. 6 in 4A and No. 7 in Illinois at 27-3 on the season.

Community had the honor of handing one of those defeats to the ’Cats; another came courtesy of Lisle’s Benet Academy. Benet, at 27-0, is the top team in Illinois, and No. 3 in the nation.

For a successful postseason run against such powerhouse performers, Community is still working to improve aspects of their offensive gameplay, like executing successful shots.

“We’re definitely still working on that and improving on that,” Michaels said, “but it’s definitely gotten better.”

The Iron, too, are working to improve on aspects of their play that don’t show up on the stat sheet: things like body language.

Body language, Michaels said, “dictates a lot of how we play emotionally and physically.”

It can be a key to “get the team going,” a way to take leadership on the court and “bring people up” — all crucial factors in the team’s effort to support each other, be accountable and communicate.

Iron volleyball is back in action this week with two conference home matches, hosting the 7-18 Bloomington Raiders on Tuesday, Oct. 15, and the 4-10 Urbana Tigers on Oct. 17.