Ironmen volleyball’s 12-match win streak came to an end Sept. 27 at the Intercity tournament, where Community split its four matches to move to 14-3 on the season and 4-0 in Big 12 play. 

The Iron opened the annual event with a 25-20, 25-16 win over an injury-hampered Normal West then rolled past the Bloomington Raiders 25-14, 25-9.

But after a strong start, the Iron faced their stiffest competition in the back half of the tournament, dropping matches to ranked rivals Central Catholic and tournament champion U-High.

Class 2A No. 1-ranked Central Catholic handed the Iron a 25-18, 25-19 loss behind a strong offensive performance. The Saints out-hit Community .348 to .145 and led in nearly every statistical category—posting 31 assists to the Iron’s 15, 29 digs to 21 and four aces to three.

Despite the loss, Michigan State commit Alana Whitfield led the team with two aces and added three digs and a block. Northern Iowa commit Maggie Michaels contributed four digs and hit .222, while senior captain Sam Lakamp and Ella Drake each recorded a block.

In the tournament finale, Class 3A No. 6 U-High capitalized on Community’s 22 errors en route to a 25-23, 25-17 win. Although the Iron edged the Pioneers in digs (45–43) and posted a 97.6% serve percentage, they struggled to finish plays, hitting just .062 to U-High’s .123.

Libero Breely Bauer led all players with 13 digs. Liv Gerrietts added eight, and Michaels and Lakamp each served an ace. Lakamp also hit a team-best .250 and tallied six digs and a block. Whitfield served 100% and added five digs, while Ella Michalak recorded 1.5 blocks at the net.

The Intercity split came after a strong midseason stretch in which Community swept nine of 11 opponents in straight sets, powered by consistent performances from captains Whitfield, Michaels and Lakamp.

With the team battling through roster shifts due to injuries during the team’s first 12 contests, Head Coach Ms. Christine Konopasek said the trio has shouldered both offensive and defensive responsibilities.

“We ask a lot of those three in particular,” Konopasek said, “in terms of being the most well-rounded.” 

Versatility has been key to the team’s early-season success and a strength they may look to later in the season. 

“It gives us some options if someone needs a mental reset,” Konopasek said. “We’re trying to make it so that we have people getting some time who aren’t in the starting six, so that if something happens down the road and we need to make a change, there’s an opportunity to be played.”

That adaptability has already paid off.

Earlier this season, Community picked up a milestone win over Lyons Township—the program’s first in five years—despite minimal warm-up and an extended three-hour bus delay.

“There was an accident when we were driving up, so we were just stuck,” Konopasek said. “We got there when the game was supposed to start.”

While Lyons Township was a breakthrough, Konopasek points to a 2-1 win over Bolingbrook as the team’s strongest performance so far.

“Sam Lakamp started with the serve, and she had three aces and six service points,” Konopasek said. “So we started up six to one, and then Maggie Michaels was on the line, and she had another two or three points.”

That early momentum helped the Iron win the third set by 15 points. That win was the Iron’s only contest to extend to three sets this season. 

“Our passing was really good. And people showed up and did small things well,” Konopasek said. “In terms of the level of competition and the quality of play, I feel like it’s the best we’ve played so far.”

Still, Konopasek said the team isn’t content with early-season success.

“If we continue to get a little bit better all the time,” she said, “then hopefully we peak at the end of the season.”