The Waubonsee women’s volleyball team celebrates after securing a match win during the Region 4 Crossover Tournament. The Chiefs finished the weekend undefeated, topping four opponents over two days.

By: Johnny Crouch, Sports & Activities Executive | Photos Courtesy of: Britt Crowe

The Waubonsee women’s volleyball team defended its home court this past weekend, going 4–0 in the Region 4 Crossover Tournament in Sugar Grove. On Sept. 21-22, the Chiefs topped Blackhawk Technical College, Carl Sandburg College, Black Hawk College and Illinois Valley Community College in front of their home crowd.

The tournament wasn’t a traditional bracket-style championship. Instead, it brought together programs from across Illinois and Wisconsin for a packed schedule of non-conference matches. For Waubonsee, the results were just what they needed heading into a critical stretch of the season.

The Chiefs opened with a dominant 3–0 sweep of Blackhawk Technical College on Friday. Later that day, they were tested by Carl Sandburg College. After dropping the first set, Waubonsee rallied to win three straight, sealing a 3–1 victory.

Saturday began with another sweep, this time over Black Hawk College. The weekend finale proved the most dramatic, as Waubonsee outlasted Illinois Valley in five sets, capped by a match-winning kill from sophomore Makayla McNally to close the deciding set 15–13.

The four wins over two days gave Waubonsee a perfect weekend at home, showing the team’s ability to handle both dominant sweeps and gritty, down to the wire matches. Head coach Steve Kish said the group impressed him all weekend, especially given how young the roster is.

“I think the team has exceeded our expectations,” Kish said. “With a predominately freshman team, we knew there was going to be a learning year, and the team embraced it and came out on top.”

Both Carl Sandburg and Illinois Valley forced Waubonsee into high-pressure moments, but each time the Chiefs found a way to steady themselves and respond. Kish said their ability to stay composed in those situations was key to closing out the weekend.

“They stayed true to the game plan and fought through the two long days,” Kish said. “We got pushed by both Carl Sandburg and Illinois Valley, and the team stayed focused to fight for the win.”

Freshman setter Ashley Collins echoed that mindset, pointing to how teammates stepped up when adversity hit.

“My biggest takeaway is seeing my team’s versatility and ability to rise to the occasion when one of our outsides got hurt,” Collins said. “We had players in new positions and different faces on the court working together to get the job done.”

Collins has been a steady contributor for Waubonsee, and her role has stood out even as a first-year player.

“I’ve adjusted quite easily as I had played up most of high school and been put in leadership roles since I was little,” Collins said. “Those experiences gave me the proper mindset and physicalities to be part of a higher program.”

For Waubonsee, the crossover tournament wasn’t just about wins and losses. Hosting the event gave the program and school a chance to showcase their facilities and community.

The crossover also came with plenty of work behind the scenes. From scheduling officials to coordinating volunteers, Waubonsee’s athletic staff put in long hours to make sure the two-day event ran smoothly. Francesca Ventura, the athletics Administrative Specialist, said it truly took a team effort.

“Basically it takes a village to make sure the tournament runs smoothly, and it makes it easier that everyone in our department works together to make it a success,” Ventura said.

Ventura added that hosting benefits Waubonsee beyond volleyball.

“It brings more foot traffic to our facilities, introduces new schools to what we have to offer and gives our Baseball and Softball players a chance to volunteer and fundraise,” Ventura said. “A big benefit is that it knocks out four games for our volleyball team so it eliminates the need for the girls to travel.”

Waubonsee has already secured the dates to host again next year.

With the sweep, the Chiefs improved their record and kept momentum rolling into the conference race. Kish said the key now is staying locked in.

“Our focus is trying to keep the wins coming.We’re taking it one match at a time,” Kish said.

That approach will be tested this Wednesday, Sept. 24, when Waubonsee hosts Morton College at 6 p.m. in the Field House at the Sugar Grove campus. The stakes are simple: win, and the Chiefs claim the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference championship.

With the season heating up, the team is well aware of what’s at stake on Wednesday night.

“Our mindset for Wednesday is to go all out and not let go of the gas,” Collins said. “We want to win the first set and keep pushing until the job is done.”