Sophomore middle hitter Peyton Bowman (Sciota, Ill./West Prairie) has been named the Arrowhead Conference Most Valuable Player for the second year in a row, highlighting a trio of Chargers earning All-Arrowhead honors.
Bowman was joined on the all-conference team by sophomore setter Cora Vyhnanek (Colchester, Ill./West Prairie) and sophomore outside hitter Tearaney Eads (Lincoln, Ill./Lincoln) after leading the 18th-ranked Chargers to back-to-back conference titles for the first time since 1987.
Additionally, Sandburg coach Todd Winkler shared Arrowhead Conference Coach of the Year honors with Sauk Valley’s Jay Howell after the teams were co-champions with a 9-1 record.
Bowman, who last season became the first Charger ever to be named Arrowhead MVP, posted 128 kills in Sandburg’s 10 conference matches, averaging 3.88 kills per set. With just 15 hitting errors in 211 attempts, Bowman recorded an astounding .536 hitting percentage. She also led Sandburg with 172 total points and 37 blocks (25 solo) in conference play.
Like Bowman, Vyhnanek earned All-Arrowhead honors for the second year in a row after totaling 319 assists (9.67 per set) in 10 matches against conference opponents. She had at least 25 assists in each Arrowhead contest, led by 40 in a sweep Oct. 16 at Kishwaukee. Vyhnanek also averaged 5.2 digs per conference match, including 12 on Oct. 8 against Sauk Valley.
Eads provided a valuable weapon next to Bowman up front, totaling 105 kills (3.18 per set) in 10 conference matches. She finished with a .204 hitting percentage in Arrowhead play and was strong defensively as well, adding 85 digs. Eads reached double-digit kills five times and recorded two double-doubles, highlighted by 13 kills and 21 digs in Sandburg’s win at Kishwaukee.
The Chargers will look to earn their third straight trip to the NJCAA Division II Championship when they play in this weekend’s Region IV District B tournament at Lake County. Sandburg opens with the quarterfinals at 4 p.m. Saturday against the host Lancers. The semifinals and finals will be played Sunday, also in Grayslake.
2019 All-Arrowhead Conference Volleyball Team
Peyton Bowman (MVP, Sandburg), Jeanette Brann (Kishwaukee), Cora Vyhnanek (Sandburg), Hannah Wilson (Sauk Valley), Sara Weisrock (Black Hawk), Tearaney Eads (Sandburg), Lexi Greve (Sauk Valley), Megan Packard (Highland), Gertie Savitch (Illinois Valley), Aleah Wight (Sauk Valley), Jaida Dean (Sauk Valley), Kaitlyn Edgcomb (Illinois Valley).
Co-Coaches of the Year: Todd Winkler (Sandburg) and Jay Howell (Sauk Valley).
2019 Arrowhead Conference final standings
Sandburg 9-1
Sauk Valley 9-1
Black Hawk 6-4
Highland 3-6
Kishwaukee 2-7
Illinois Valley 0-10
***Report Courtesy of Carl Sandburg College***
