Thomas Impressive in First Day of Parkland Invitational, Express Split Pair of Matches

Jazmine Thomas, pictured here, had 18 kills in two matches today, both team-highs. She also led the team with five blocks against Macomb. Photo by Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Jazmine Thomas, pictured here, had 18 kills in two matches today, both team-highs. She also led the team with five blocks against Macomb. Photo by Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Champaign, IL---The Express volleyball team split a pair of matches in the Parkland Invitational today. It was their first of two days in the invitational.

Match 1: Des Moines Area Community College d. Owens 25-23, 25-19, 25-22

Stephanie Kipp and Jazmine Thomas each had a team-high eight kills in the Express loss. 

Lisa Urbanski led in digs (18), Kenzie Kleinhenz led in blocks (2), Jessica Cooper led in aces (2) and Ciarra Wirick led in assists (19). Cooper added 12 assists.

Match 2: Owens d. Macomb Community College 25-19, 25-22, 26-24

Thomas led the way with 10 kills, while Urbanski had 23 digs as the Express lost to DMACC, who received votes in the latest National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) D-II poll.

Thomas added a team-high five blocks, while Wirick (17) and Cooper (12) led in assists.

Notes

The Express are now 9-8 this year. They have two tough matches against top five teams in the finale of the Parkland Invitational tomorrow. At 11 a.m., they will take on No. 2 Parkland College (19-2), followed by a 12:45 p.m. matchup against No. 5 Illinois Central College (12-2).