It was a long weekend (Sept. 14-16) for the fighting Cyclones as they faced five teams in the Waubonsee Community College Tournament. Even after an initial loss, they bounced back to win their remaining four matches.

Carl Sandburg College is a talented team, but not one the Cyclones couldn't defeat. A slow start, tough blocking, hitting errors and missed serves undermined the Cyclones despite a stellar defensive effort, and they lost in four: 21-25, 16-25, 25-22, 24-26. Julia Elsouso led with 16 kills and Noelle Knezz had 10 while Lauren Gausselin finished with 32 digs.

The Cyclones battled back the next day with wins over Illinois Valley Community College (25-23, 25-19, 25-9) and South Suburban College (25-10, 25-9, 25-20). Abbi Fletcher collected 12 kills and 15 digs, Knezz amassed four aces, 13 kills and 16 assists while Emily Stepanek dug up 33, Amanda Bulow had 13 kills and Gausselin had 13 digs.

The final two wins on Sept. 16 saw a number of missed serves, close calls and low energy, but the Cyclones were able to win both matches in three: 25-23, 26-24, 25-19 over Sauk Valley Community College and 26-16, 25-21, 25-19 over Black Hawk College. Fletcher finished with 27 kills, 14 digs and three aces, Gausselin had 15 digs, Amanda Bulow had 10 kills, Stepanek had 11 digs, Knezz collected 16 assists and Taylor Bulow dished out 11 assists.