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 Lake Land College Volleyball Team Clinches Region XXIV Championship Title 

Published on November 3, 2026 7:06 am
Last Updated on November 3, 2026 7:06 am

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Lake Land College team members are, front row, left to right, Alisa Rodionova, Moscow, Russia; Alex Lane-Thomas, Decatur; Elisabel Monge, El Paso, Texas; Mackenzie Jackson, Champaign; McKenzie Love, Effingham; Danny Alps, Loveland, Colorado and volleyball assistant Coach Elizabeth Vanneste. Back row, left to right, Head Coach Lainey Jackson, Assistant Coach Giorgia Cappelletti, Karolina Eged, Hungary; Adlie Farlow, Camp Point; Bella Austin, Effingham; Makayla Cooper, Homewood; Nicolle Celeste Quintero, Cali, Colombia; Beronica De Oleo, Dominican Republic and Fitness Center Specialist Michael Dietz.

On Saturday, the Lake Land College Lakers volleyball team defeated the Vincennes University Trailblazers in the championship round of the Region XXIV Tournament in Mt. Carmel. With the victory, the Lakers clinched back-to-back Region XXIV Championship titles for the first time since 2013-2014.

After finishing the 2026 regular season with a region-best 17-2 record, the Lakers entered as the tournament’s top seed and opened with a 3-0 victory over John A. Logan College to advance to the championship round. Matched in the final against the second-seeded Trailblazers, the Lakers split the first two tightly contested sets, 25-23 and 24-26, before prevailing in the final two sets, 25-22 and 25-20, to secure the championship.

The victory marks the Lakers’ second consecutive Region XXIV championship following the team’s upset win over the top-ranked Trailblazers in last year’s regional tournament.

“We’re proud to see our volleyball program develop into a perennial title contender and grow into one of the top community college teams in the nation,” Director of Athletics Bill Jackson said. “Our coaches and athletes have put in a tremendous amount of work all year long to deliver one of the best seasons in team history, and we’re thrilled to see it result in yet another regional title.”

With the Region XXIV championship victory, the Lakers advance to the NJCAA Midwest District A Tournament, which will be hosted at the Lake Land College Field House Friday, November 6 through Saturday, November 7. The Lakers will play at 4 p.m. on November 6 against the winner of John A. Logan vs Iowa Western.

Two Effingham players are members of the team and those include sophomore Bella Austin and freshman McKenzi Love.