By Marissa VanWingen, The Times Citizen
In the Iowa Community College Athletic standings, Ellsworth Community College and Southeastern Community College were right next to each other with the same league record of 6-4.
In the regular season finale, that's exactly how the match played out with three of the four sets being decided by just two points. In the end, the hosting Blackhawks won in four 25-23, 25-18, 26-28, 28-26. The Panthers finish sixth heading into the Region XI Tournament.
In the opener, SCC (22-18, 7-4) scored seven of the first eight points. Despite the slow start, ECC (19-11, 6-5) came back to knot the score for the first time at 10-10 on a Natalie See kill. The Panthers were on top twice, the last time 12-11 on an Ana Cuartero hit. The advantage reached four on a See ace before the Blackhawks came charging back and scored six unanswered to take the 17-15 lead. There would be four more even scores, the final at 23-23 when SCC won it on a block.
The second game was the biggest difference. Even at 5-5, the Blackhawks scored seven out of the next eight points to lead 12-6. The Panthers found themselves down as many as 10 (19-9) and could never fully dig themselves out, falling 25-18.
ECC found themselves down big again in the third game, trailing by as many as eight (19-11). A hitting error finally ended the scoring lull. With Elitsa Peneva serving, the Panthers rattled off eight points in a row to take their first lead of the game, 21-20. Cuartero had back-to-back kills to take the 22-20 lead. There would be four more ties and two lead changes before ECC scored on a Juliana Nunez kill and then won it on a See block.
The visitors jumped out to an early lead in the fourth game but quickly saw the advantage dissipate as the Blackhawks went on top by as many as seven (21-14). Slowly, ECC got back into the game and with Adriana Tiedt serving cut the difference to two with an ace. SCC had match point at 24-21 but back-to-back Cuartero hits made it a one point spread and then a net error knotted the score at 24-24. After being even at 25-25, ECC went on top on a hitting error by the hosts. A Blackhawk block evened the score once again at 26-all and then a Panther hitting mishap and an ace by Taryn Stephens ended it.
ECC received the sixth seed in the Region XI Tournament and will play at the three-seed Northeast Community College for the first round on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 6 p.m.
For more on ECC Athletics, click here: https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.timescitizen.com%2fsports%2fecc%2f&c=E,1,jOS4vgAuklvi_kbCVNu7FZotLlMRH8K2YW5a2mqJnKJkqRNzw96UHzuV2CAQRFKmZt6CKMWmxTIhviEGL_PQtre5PjRUpJxLbDKNDBwVwBjOFw-IL6L-lHgdTd7M&typo=1
Southeastern 3, Ellsworth 1
Wednesday at West Burlington
ECC: 23| 18| 28| 26 – 1
SCC: 25| 25| 26| 28 – 3
ECC Stats Unavailable