Regents Tame the Sabers

ROCKFORD, IL - Standing at 4-5 in the Northern Athletics Conference, the Regents face an uphill battle to qualify for the conference post-season tournament.  With only three NAC contests remaining, Rockford needed to regain their swagger after last week's 3-1 loss to Concordia University Chicago.  With Lakeland College, the conference's number one ranked team paying a visit to the Seaver Center on Saturday night for Senior Night, the Regents needed to get a victory over the visiting Marian College Sabers on Friday night.  That is exactly what the Regents did in four games, evening their Northern Athletics Conference record at 5-5.

Rockford took the first game 25-21, led by seniors Amelia King (German Valley, IL/ Forreston) and Clara Wiersma (Rockton, IL/ Hononegah) and their nine combined kills.  The Regents controlled game two, to the tune of a 25-14 victory.  The Sabers rallied after the intermission to take game three 25-23.  The Sabers continued their momentum early in the fourth game.  But eventually the Regents received a boost from the energetic crowd, fighting their way to a 26-24 win.

Wiesrma led the Regents with 16 kills, and King added 13.  Senior Angie Butler (Forreston, IL/ Forreston) and sophomore Melissa Swaziek (Loves Park, IL/ Harlem) chipped in with 10 and 12 kills, respectively.  Senior Amanda Austin (Machesney Park, IL/ Harlem) recorded 44 assists on the match.

The Regents will face NAC regular season champion Lakeland College on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. in the Seaver Center.  The match will be the final home match for Rockford's four seniors.