Owens advances to NJCAA D-II championship match

Olivia Hermiller, left, Michaela Eisenhauer and Kennedy Ames of Owens Community College defend a shot during a game this season against Lorain County Community College. Owens has won 40 matches in a row and will play for a National Junior College Athletic Association national title Saturday.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Owens Community College volleyball team is one match away from winning the national championship after disposing of fourth-seeded Lincoln Land (Ill.) Community College 25-19, 25-19, 25-23 in a National Junior College Athletic Association Division II national semifinal Friday at the Charleston Civic Center.

The top-ranked Express, who have won 40 consecutive matches this season, will meet Coffeyville (Kan.) (43-2) in the title match at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Coffeyville beat Parkland (Ill.) 26-24, 25-8, 22-25, 22-25, 15-8 in the other semifinal.

No individual statistics were available at presstime.

Owens rolled to easy wins in its first two matches at the tournament Thursday. 

The Express beat Harcum (Pa.) College 25-15, 25-15, 25-14 in the first round behind 11 kills from Olivia Hermiller.

In a quarterfinal match, Owens had a bit of a tougher time but advanced 25-21, 29-27, 21-25, 25-19 against Cowley County (Kan.) Community College. Ally Angstmann had 15 kills and Michaela Eisenhauer added 11.