Kirkwood Volleyball Sweeps Final Day of Opening Weekend Tournament
The Kirkwood Eagles volleyball team capped off an impressive opening weekend by sweeping Palm Beach State and No. 15 Grand Rapids on August 23, improving to 4-0 on the young season.
Match One: Kirkwood vs. Palm Beach State
Kirkwood opened the day with a strong showing against Palm Beach State, earning a 3–0 victory (25–18, 25–19, 25–15). Setter Kaci Johnson led the way with 11 kills on a .350 hitting clip while also handing out 13 assists. Middle blocker Madalyn Boyer turned in a nearly perfect performance, recording 8 kills on .889 efficiency along with 3 service aces and 2 blocks for a team-high 14 points.
Outside hitters Sydney Brandmeyer and Marissa Cahoy chipped in 7 kills apiece, while libero Natalee Hartman collected 11 digs to anchor the defense. At the service line, Kirkwood delivered 11 aces, with Boyer and Abbie Staats combining for 7. The Eagles hit .341 as a team and controlled every phase of the match.
Match Two: Kirkwood vs. #15 Grand Rapids
In the afternoon, Kirkwood faced its toughest challenge of the weekend in nationally ranked No. 15 Grand Rapids. The Eagles responded with poise, securing another sweep (25–19, 25–21, 25–23). Johnson again shined, posting 10 kills and 16 assists to pace the offense.
Sydney Brandmeyer added 8 kills and 18 digs for an all-around performance, while Yasmine Sell tallied 7 kills and 8 digs. Boyer and Emily Naughton combined for 10 kills in the middle, each hitting .500 or better. Defensively, Hartman's 19 digs kept rallies alive, and the Eagles finished with 5 team blocks to neutralize Grand Rapids' attack.
Kirkwood's serve also made the difference, producing 13 aces—five from Staats and three from setter Avery Knoop—to keep Grand Rapids out of rhythm.
What's Next
After a perfect 4-0 start to the season, Kirkwood now turns its attention to conference play. The Eagles will open ICCAC competition this Wednesday at Central Community College in Columbus, Nebraska, with first serve scheduled for 6 p.m.
