Cobra Athletics Update information is provided by Joey Gruner and Cobra Athletics. All images are courtesy of Cobra Athletics, Parkland College.
Katie Kaiser Earns National Honor From NJCAA
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Parkland College Athletics and Cobras Volleyball are proud to announce that Katie Kaiser has been honored with national recognition from the National Junior College Athletic Association. The Cobras middle-hitter was awarded Tachikara 2020-21 NJCAA DII Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week based on her performances during the week of February 22-28.
For the week as a whole, the Tolono, Ill., native played in 14 sets, producing 27 block assists along with 2 solo blocks and averaging 2.07 blocks/set. Kaiser helped lead the Cobras (16-0, 4-0 M-WAC) to five match victories, as the program maintained the No. 1 ranking for NJCAA DII.
“Katie spent her freshman year really learning the art of being a good blocker from some great role models in last year’s middles, Hannah Benson and Paige Yoder,” expressed Head Coach Cliff Hastings. “She worked at taking and providing feedback and watching the success and improvements needed to find her own greatness this year.”
Kaiser, who graduated from Unity High School, opened her week with 4 block assists against Lewis & Clark. Three days later, at Parkland’s Tri #2, she had 6 block assists and a solo vs. Vincennes and then exploded with 11 total blocks vs. #14-ranked Lincoln Land. The following day, at Tri #3, the sophomore tacked on 7 more over two matches.
“Katie has worked hard, and she’s a very strong and athletic young woman,” added Hastings. “She just lacked the experience and understanding of what it took to be a great blocker before, but she’s really putting both pieces together, now, this year.”
Kaiser is the daughter of Josh & Stephanie Bryant. Her academic pursuits include Nursing.
This is the second award from the NJCAA this season for a member of the Cobras volleyball team. Teammate Halle Everett earned the same award, albeit for her offensive play, during the week of February 8-14.
No. 1 Cobras Withstand Charge From No. 15 Loggers : Winning streak of 50-straight sets is broken
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – No. 1 Parkland College Volleyball (17-0, 5-0 M-WAC) battled its way to a 3-1 (25-16, 27-25, 22-25, 25-18) top-15, conference victory at #15 Lincoln Land CC (10-4, 4-1).
While the Cobras cruised in set 1, Lincoln Land pushed Parkland to the brink in set 2. The Cobras were up, 21-18, but the Loggers rattled off 4 straight points to lead by one, 22-21. Lincoln Land eventually had a set point while leading 24-23, but the teams traded points until it was knotted again at 25. At that point, the Cobras won 2 straight points to secure the set.
In set 3, Lincoln Land maintained a three to four-point lead throughout. Parkland pulled to within 2 points, at 22-24, but a failed service gave the match to the Loggers. This broke a string of 50-straight sets that the Cobras had won.
In the decisive set 4, Parkland jumped on top early, leading 8-5. The Cobras then went on a 7-2 run to increase the lead to 15-7. The Loggers did not go away easily, drawing to within four at 17-21. From that point, the Parkland outscored Lincoln Land, 4-1, to take the match.
Up next, Parkland participates in the Kankakee Tri in Kankakee, Ill., on Saturday, March 6. The Cobras will face #19 Sauk Valley CC at 12:00 pm, and immediately following, Kankakee CC at 2:00 pm.
Parkland College Baseball Releases 2020-21 Schedule
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Parkland College Athletics and Cobras Baseball have released the 2020-21 Softball Schedule which features 26 doubleheaders and 3 single, 9-inning games, between March 6 and May 15.
Head Coach Jon Goebel enters his third season at the helm of the Cobras baseball program after also serving four years as pitching coach.
The opening doubleheader will take place Saturday, March 6, in Hillsboro, Mo., as part of a 4-game, home-and-away series against Jefferson College.
The schedule includes fourteen home doubleheaders and one 9-inning game, with the first being played on March 7. The NJCAA has not yet made final decisions on in-person attendance for outdoor spring sports, but many of the home and away games are slated to be livestreamed.
The Cobras will face eight Mid-West Athletic Conference opponents over 32 games utilizing home-and-away doubleheaders. The first conference games are vs. Lewis & Clark CC on March 27.
The 2020-21 roster will feature 8 returning Cobras who saw their 2020 spring season cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Parkland played only thirteen games, winning eight. Joining the veterans are 3 transfers and a class of 37 freshman.
