Columbia College volleyball team sweeps McKendree

COLUMBIA — Columbia College improved to 10-1 on the season on Tuesday with a sweep of McKendree, 25-20, 26-24, 25-19.

The Cougars went through stretches of poor defense in the second game, but junior outside hitter Vesna Trivunovic’s seven kills helped Columbia College come back and win the game.

Trivunovic totaled 19 kills and two aces against the Bearcats, and sophomore setter Paula Ferriera dished out 43 assists.

McKendree’s unique style kept Columbia College off balance, Cougars coach Melinda Wrye-Washington said.

“They aren’t snapping balls off and rifling balls at you like you normally see,” Wrye-Washington said. “They are spinning balls of the side of their hand, they’re tipping with two hands, stuff like that that we aren’t used to seeing. It creates a lot of unrest.”

The victory gives Columbia College a 2-0 record in the American Midwest Conference. The Cougars will travel to Brownsville, Texas on Thursday to get prepared for a tournament this weekend hosted by Texas-Brownsville. Texas-Brownsville gave Columbia College its lone loss of the season on Sept. 4.