Illinois Lutheran played in the very competitive Wisconsin Lutheran College Lutheran Invitational Tournament last weekend. Facing much larger schools, the Chargers worked hard throughout the five matches, but fell short. In the round robin tournament, they started the day against Fox Valley Lutheran, the eventual tournament champion, losing 6-25, 4-25. They then lost to Shoreland Lutheran (19-25, 8-25), Luther High School (20-25, 18-25), Winnebago Lutheran Academy (19-25, 15-25), and Luther Preparatory School (9-25; 10-25). Zoe Biesterfeld received All-Tournament team honors, finishing the day with 16 kills and 30 digs. Ryleigh Peters and Anna Oestmann each added 23 digs for the day.

On Wednesday, September 28, the Chargers were at Watseka for a non-conference match. The Chargers started out shaky and allowed Watseka to grab a 5-1 lead, but a service run by Kate Latzke put the Chargers up 6-5. The two teams battled, and there were several ties and lead changes until Watseka went on a 5-point run to give them a 20-14 lead. The Chargers couldn’t make up the difference and lost the first set 17-25. The second set started out the same, with both teams battling to get an advantage. With the score 10-9, Watseka ended up, once again, going on a long service run to put the game out of reach and the Chargers lost 15-25.

Zoe Biesterfeld had 7 kills, 5 digs, and 2 block assists, plus Kate Latzke added 1 ace, 1 kill, 1 solo block, and 1 block assist. Kimberly Danielewicz recorded 2 kills, 1 solo block, and 1 block assist, while Emma Nagle and Kailey Van Es each had 4 assists.

Thursday, September 29, the Chargers were back on the road for a conference match at Donovan. The Chargers were struggling to get in a rhythm but kept the score close throughout the first set. The teams were tied at 18, when a Donovan service run put them up 21-18. The Chargers battled back and tied the score at 24 on an ace from Emma Nagle, but a Donovan side out and point gave the first set to Donovan 26-24. The Chargers came out stronger in the second set and built a 16-11 lead, but Donovan eventually went ahead at 22-21 before a Charger side out and 3 straight points behind the serving of Ryleigh Peters gave the second set to the Chargers, 25-22.

In the deciding set, Donovan took the momentum and built a 10-7 lead, but a Charger side out and 6 straight points behind the serving of Kailey Van Es put the Chargers up 14-10. Donovan came back to within one, but the Chargers were able to keep up the pressure and win the third and final set, 25-20.

Kate Latzke led the offense with 13 kills, Zoe Biesterfeld added 10 kills, and Emma Oestmann and Grace Atherton added 5 and 3 kills, respectively. Kailey Van Es had 19 assists, 2 kills, 2 digs, and 1 ace, Emma Nagle added 9 assists and 2 aces, while Zoe Biesterfeld and Ryleigh Peters each had 7 digs, and Anna Oestmann added 5.

The Chargers are now 6-18 and 3-5 in the RVC.