ROCKFORD, Ill. — The seventh-ranked Iowa Central volleyball team opened their season by splitting their four matches here at Opening Weekend Tournament hosted by Rockford.

The Tritons fell to No. 23 Sauk Valley in five and Gulf Coast State in four around wins over Muskegon in three and fourth-ranked Pensacola State in five.

“Eighteen of the Top-25 teams from NJCAA Div. II were in the tournament,” ICCC head coach Sara Horn said. “Gulf Coast State wasn’t ranked because they didn’t get their preseason info turned in but will likely be in the Top-5.

“Our returning starters led us this weekend with their consistent play and leadership. (Former Manson Northwest Webster standout) Olivia Sturgis looks to be one of the top middles in the country. We pushed her the ball in a lot of tight situations and she found ways to get kills and blocks in big moments.”

In the win over Muskegon, Talya Sampson and Brooke Lensing each had eight kills with Sturgis and Emily Goodner both recording seven. Anabel Seaman had 19 assists and Olivia Benson 10 digs.

Sturgis had a dozen kills vs. Pensacola State and Goodner 11 while Seaman recorded 25 assists and Benson 21 digs. Goodner had a team-high 10 kills vs. Sauk Valley and 15 vs. GCS.

“I’m proud of this group for battling all weekend,” Horn said. “They did a great job of discovering who we are as a team, and working together against some great competition. This team is a lot of fun to coach and to watch and they’re just going to continue to get better and better as the season goes on.”

Iowa Central makes its Hodges Fieldhouse debut Wednesday vs. the William Penn JV at 5:30 p.m.