Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Former Manson Northwest Webster star Olivia Sturgis goes up for an Iowa Central block on Wednesday inside Hodges Fieldhouse. For more photos, visit CU.messengernews.net

As they have done 25 times over the past two seasons, the Iowa Central volleyball team walked off the court winners here Wednesday night at Hodges Fieldhouse.

With a sweep over Iowa Lakes, the eighth-ranked Tritons secured a second-place finish in the ICCAC and honored their sophomores in the process.

Scores were 25-9, 25-12 and 25-16.

After going 14-3 last year at home. Iowa Central (27-6 overall, 9-2 in ICCAC) has lost just once in 13 matches here this season — a setback versus No. 1 Cowley County last weekend.

“It was great to celebrate our 11 sophomores and play a really solid match with all 11 contributing on the floor,” ICCC head coach Sara Horn said. “This group has been all business this year and has really made our jobs as coaches super easy.

“They work hard on the court and they do what they should do off the court and in the classroom.”

Among those the Tritons honored were former Manson Northwest Webster standouts Emily Goodner and Olivia Sturgis. The two were recognized following the victory, alongside Matea Cunningham, Rachel Zanter, Dani Anela Kapu, Brooke Lensing, Natalie Hagadon, Araya Garrison, Camryn Stevens, Olivia Benson and Tionn Wise.

Garrison had a match-high 11 kills, with Goodner adding eight and Sturgis six. Goodner also had 12 digs, which led the squad, and Benson had 11 as Kapu dished out 18 assists. Sturgis contributed five block assists and a solo block, with Lensing recording five block assists as well.

Lensing tallied four kills, three digs and five block assists. Hagadon had three digs and a kill, while Stevens recorded two aces. Cunningham notched a dig.

Freshman Talya Sampson chipped in seven kills. Anabel Seaman dished out 13 assists with four aces.

“As we’re approaching postseason play, it’s great to see this group really clicking and peaking at the right time,” Horn said. “As a team, we hit nearly .500, which is an unbelievable hitting percentage for a whole group.

“We’re proud of these girls for working hard all year, and excited to see how this postseason goes.”

Iowa Central concludes the regular season back here on Saturday vs. Iowa Western before beginning Region XI play on Wednesday. The semifinals and finals next Saturday and Sunday will be hosted by the highest remaining seed.

The NJCAA Div. II Championships are once again set for Cedar Rapids on Nov. 20-23. Along with the regional champion qualifying, there will be four at-large selections to complete the field.