Kirkwood volleyball, up to No. 2 in national rankings, sweeps to ICCAC title

CEDAR RAPIDS — Kirkwood had this one circled on the calendar for some time.

As the Eagles — ranked second in NJCAA Division II — ran roughshod through their volleyball schedule over the past month, they knew conference supremacy would only be earned against No. 10 Iowa Central.

The result was emphatic.

“We wanted it so bad,” Kirkwood freshman outside hitter Marissa Cahoy said after the Eagles swept the Tritons, 25-18, 26-24, 25-19 in an Iowa Community College Athletic Conference match Wednesday night at Johnson Hall. “We have been leading up to this day for a while, now. We wanted it.”

The victory is the 15th in a row for Kirkwood (27-5, 10-0) and did indeed clinch the ICCAC title. The Eagles can complete an undefeated conference season for the first time since 2017 by winning Oct. 30 at Southwestern.

“Us just playing together, we’re finally getting into the groove,” Kirkwood freshman setter Kaci Johnson said. “We’re really connecting, more than just on a player level. As people, we are too and I think that is helping a lot.”

Johnson has been dynamic all season for the Eagles. The former North Scott prep — who helped the Lancers win the Class 4A state championship last season — leads Kirkwood in kills (293) and assists (672) and is second in digs (326).

“Kaci has the ability to do a little bit of everything, from playing defense to attacking to setting,” second-year Kirkwood Coach Dave Brown said. “She is a triple-double machine. She just has a really good feel for the game, a high volleyball IQ and a great touch.

“We would not be anywhere close to where we are without her.”

Johnson and Cahoy (214 kills) — along with fellow freshman Josie Bryan (240), plus sophomores Ava Harris-Shepard (211) and Emma Meester (262), a Mount Vernon graduate — comprise a whopping five Kirkwood players with more than 210 kills this season.

“There’s five of us who all can put the ball away, so we’re not a team with just one hitter that the other team will scout,” Johnson said. “The other team has no idea where to block.”

Before the ICCAC finale at Southwestern, Kirkwood will trek to Fort Dodge this weekend to compete against some out-of-state schools that should help prime the Eagles for the start of postseason play Nov. 6.

“Our unity is just what is building us,” Cahoy said. “That just means so much to us and we just have to keep it on. Keep it going.”

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