In Lainey Jackson’s third year as coach of Lake Land’s Volleyball team, the team finished the season with a 21-12 record. The team was 16-3 in the conference, 14-4 at home, 6-7 on the road and 1-1 in neutral sites. As a result of the team’s success this season, Jackson was named Region XXIV Coach of the Year.
The team opened the season in late August, winning two matches at home, sweeping three sets each against Rend Lake College and Lincoln Trail College before losing three to one to Heartland Community College in Normal, IL on Aug. 29.
Later that day, the team would salvage a win, sweeping three matches against Prairie State College. The team finished August with a 3-1 record.
In September, the Volleyball team went 8-8 and finished the month with an overall record of 11-9. The team dropped six of its first eight matches of the month, which included dropping three of four matches at the Titan Invitational on Sept. 5 and 6 at Melbourne, FL.
After defeating Peru State College 3-2 on the Sept. 5t, the Volleyball team was swept in three consecutive matches to the host school, Eastern Florida State College later that day, and to Miami Dade College and Daytona State College the following day.
On Sept. 12 at the Laker Tournament, in their first match, the Volleyball team lost to Indian Hills Community College, 3-2 before losing all three matches to Mineral Area College.
However, the Volleyball team finished the month strong, winning six of their last eight matches, including sweeping three matches on the road against Frontier Community College on Sept. 15, Southeastern Illinois Community College on Sept. 17 and Rend Lake College on Sept. 29.
In October, the Volleyball team went 7-2 and upped their overall record to 18-11. They swept five different opponents at home in three sets which included Shawnee Community College on Oct. 8, Vincennes University at home on Oct. 17, Frontier Community College at home on Oct. 20, John A. Logan College on Oct. 27 and Kaskaskia College on Oct. 29.
In November, the Volleyball team went 3-1 and upped their final season work to 21-12. They won the first three matches as they hosted the Region XXIV Tournament due to having the best conference record.
On Nov. 1, the team defeated Frontier Community College, three sets to one before sweeping John A. Logan College once again in three sets. The next day on Nov. 2, the team won the conference tournament, defeating Vincennes University three sets to one.
As a result of being the conference winner, the Volleyball team was awarded an automatic bid to the national tournament. Lake Land College hosted the Midwest Regionals; however, the Volleyball team was eliminated on Nov. 7 to Missouri State University-West Plains when they were beaten three sets to one.
Let us give Coach Lainey Jackson the support she deserves as the team has made great strides within the three years of her tenure here on campus.
