Chargers Sweep Away Spoon River in Home Opener

GALESBURG — The Carl Sandburg College volleyball team cruised to a victory in its home opener Wednesday at John Lewis Gymnasium, sweeping Spoon River 25-19, 25-15, 25-18.

The win was the sixth straight for the Chargers (6-2) this season and their 13th in a row on their home floor. Sandburg's last home defeat came Sept. 7, 2021, against Indian Hills.

Up 9-7 in the first set, the Chargers stretched their lead by taking five of the next six points to go up 14-8. Grace Vyhnanek fed Addison DeSpain for one of her team-leading 12 kills during the run.

Tied at 8 in the second set, Sandburg rattled off an 8-0 run on the serve of Lauren Powell. Powell had one of the Chargers' six aces on the night during the burst. After the Snappers finally recorded a side out, Sandburg strung together four more points for a 20-9 lead.

Three straight points on a DeSpain kill, Madeline Mooney ace and Ayla Cannon block broke a 16-16 tie in the third as the Chargers finished off the sweep. Sandburg won the last five points of the match, highlighted by back-to-back kills from Lillian Isenhour to close it out.

Natalie Burden had nine kills for Sandburg, while Isenhour added eight. Vhynanek totaled 32 assists, and Mooney had a season-best 27 digs to lead three Chargers in double figures defensively. Vyhnanek had 11 digs, and DeSpain picked up 13 for her fourth double-double of the season. Cannon had a team-leading four blocks (all solo) in the victory. She and DeSpain also had a pair of aces.

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