September 2022 Volume 5, Issue 1
Skyhawks Stay on Top
After last year’s season, winning the regional title along with placing 5th at NJCAA nationals for the second year in a row, the Skyhawks started off the new season strong.
Jay Howell who has been head coach of the Sauk Valley volleyball program for 13 seasons put his team in position to be victorious as their first home game was a success. The Skyhawks swept Black Hawk College 3-0, winning each set by 10 points.
The Skyhawks were led by talented freshman Nicole Boelens ,out of Polo High School, making a right side kill to the back corner putting the Skyhawks up 1-0. She finished the game with 13 kills and 12 digs.
Returning from last year's 42-3 team Gabby Jones, a setter for the Skyhawks, accompanied by Jaelyn Fitzgerald who plays middle, as Jones did a backhand set assist to Fitzgerald to close out the second set putting the Skyhawks up 2-0. They finished with 12 assists from Jones and 5 kills from Fitzgerald to finish out the game.
Freshman Reagan Oster (DS) and Mikayla Gazo (Libero) dug up some impressive hits from Black Hawk College’s outside hitters. Ending the game with 11 digs and 3 assists from Oster and 16 digs and 3 aces for Gazo closing the game for the Skyhawks resulting in a 3-0 victory over Black Hawk College.
The Sauk Valley volleyball program has won 6 national titles for the past 8 years, Lets see if the Skyhawks can keep the streak going.