The College of DuPage Chaparrals played host to the Waubonsee Community College Chiefs, in the first confrontation of the season between these two teams, the Chaparrals came out on top after sweeping the Chiefs 3-0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-17).
The Chiefs are looking to get revenge as the Chaps look to add one more to their four-game win streak, which already has wins against Oakton, Wisconsin Whitewater (Rock County), and Joliet JC. The Chiefs are coming into the game with a 5-13 record, and COD is 14-9.
The first set got underway after the national anthem and a picture was taken at midcourt of both teams together. COD started off on a 3-0 run, but the Chiefs got a couple back to keep it close at 5-3. The chaps went on a 7-3 run to blow the first set open to a 12-6 lead. The Chiefs had no answers for the Chaps in the first set as COD closed with a score of 25-11. The Chaps finished the first set with 5 kills, 2 errors and 20 total attacks.
Waubonsee was looking to regroup after the first set loss, and they came in strong by going up 5-1 in the early stages of set two. DuPage came flying back by tying the second set at 10 a piece. After a couple of errors by COD, the Chiefs grew their lead up to 16-12, when COD called their first timeout.
After the close second set, coach Tolis Koskinaris had just two words for his team: “Play better.”
Following the timeout, the Chaps strung some points together to grab the lead at 19-18, where the Chiefs called a timeout of their own. Waubonsee would come back and regain the lead at 22-21. The final moments of the second set were nail-biting, with both teams tied at 24. The Chaps and the Chiefs would go back and forth up until COD put the Chiefs away with the score 28-27 on back-to-back kills. The Chaps finished the close second set with 17 kills, 14 errors and 58 total attacks.
With the start of set three, DuPage was determined to send the Chiefs back to Kane County. The Chaps went up to a 10-6 lead and never looked back. Waubonsee called a timeout after COD went on a 4-1 run to widen their lead to 14-7. The Chaps sent the Chiefs home after COD ran away with the game after going on an 11-3 marathon, with the third set ending 25-10. COD ended the last set with 8 kills, 9 errors and 27 total attacks.
After the win, freshman left side Alexandra Hornbogen said, “A lot of our practices have been more aggressive, and that helped a lot. For future games, we are going to work on our offense, like more smart plays.”
With the victory, COD improves to 15-9. They will attempt to keep their winning streak going when they play the Harper Hawks on Oct. 8 in Palatine, Ill.
