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

As it has done 25 times over the past two seasons, the Iowa Central volleyball team ran out field winners Wednesday night at Hodges Fieldhouse.

With a sweep of Iowa Lakes, the eighth-seeded Tritons earned second place in the ICCAC and honored the sophomores in the process.

The scores were 25-9, 25-12 and 25-16.

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

“It was great to celebrate our 11 sophomores and play a really solid game with all 11 contributing on the field.” said ICCC head coach Sara Horn. “This group was all business this year and it really made our job as coaches a lot easier.

“They work hard on the field and do what they need to do off the field and in the classroom.”

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

Garrison had a game-high 11 kills, while Goodner had eight kills and Sturgis had six. Goodner’s 12 digs also led the team, while Benson had 11 and Kapu had 18 assists. Sturgis contributed five block assists and one solo block, while Lensing also recorded five block assists.

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

Freshman Talya Sampson had seven kills. Anabel Seaman had 13 assists with 4 aces.

“As we approach postseason play, it’s great to see this group really step up and peak at the right time.” Horn said. “We hit almost .500 as a team, which is an incredible hitting percentage for the entire group.

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

Iowa Central will wrap up the regular season here on Saturday against Iowa Western before beginning Region XI play on Wednesday. Next Saturday and Sunday the semi-finals and finals will be hosted by the highest remaining seeds.

NJCAA Div. II Championship is once again set for Cedar Rapids, November 20-23. Along with the regional champion qualifiers, there will be four at-large selections to round out the field.