AURORA, Ill. - The Regents volleyball team took part in its second tournament so far this season when it traveled to Aurora University for a pair of matches on Saturday. Rockford opened up with a rematch against University of Dubuque whom it had played a couple of weeks earlier, and then completed its day with a match against rival Aurora University.
Rockford's opening match against the University of Dubuque Spartans once again lived up to its billing as a close and exciting match. The Regents won the opening set in dramatic fashion 25-22 as well as the third set 25-21 to grab a two sets to one lead. However, the Spartans took the fourth set 25-17 to force a fifth and decisive set. The final set was once again a nail-biter but this time Dubuque was able to pull out the victory 15-12 and win the match 3-2.
The Regents saw multiple outstanding performances against Dubuque. Junior Katelyn Hasken (Lanark, Ill./Eastland) recorded her first double-double of the season with a team-high 16 kills and 15 digs. Freshman Taylor Rossi (Ingleside, Ill./Grant Community) was just one kill away from a triple-double. The freshman led the Regents with 27 assists, had 10 digs and recorded 9 kills. Defensively Rockford was on top of its game with multiple players having at least 30 digs. Freshman Cordelia Cooper (Maywood, Ill./Proviso East) had a game and season-high 33 digs. Senior Heather Hyland (Belvidere, Ill./Belvidere) also had a season-high in digs with 30.
Rockford's second match of the day did not start out as well as the first, but the ladies did not surrender and continued to fight back. After dropping the opening two sets, Rockford won a trilling third set 25-23 to force a fourth set. However, the Aurora University Spartans were able rebound and win the fourth set to win the match 3-1.
Despite the loss Rockford still had some good individual performances. Katelyn Hasken once again led the way offensively for the Regents. Hasken recorded a team-high 14 kills, 5 digs and 1 block assists. Taylor Rossi recorded her second double-double of the day with a team-high 16 assists and 10 digs. Cordelia Cooper and Heather Hyland each reached double-digits in digs as well. Cooper led Rockford with 15 digs while Hyland had 10 digs.
The volleyball team returns to Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference action on September 18th when they travel to Dominican University. The match is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
