Lakers Volleyball Claims Region XXIV Championship Title

Published on November 2, 2026

On Saturday, October 31, the Lake Land College Lakers Volleyball team defeated the Vincennes University Trailblazers in the championship round of the Region XXIV Tournament in Mt. Carmel, Illinois. With the victory, the Lakers clinched back-to-back Region XXIV Championship Titles for the first time in program history.

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 on Friday, November 6 through Sunday, November 8.

The 2026-2027 Lake Land College Volleyball team consists of the following student-athletes.

Name Year Hometown/Home Country
Danny Alps Freshman Loveland, Colo.
Bella Austin Sophomore Effingham Ill.
Nicolle Celeste Quintero Freshman Cali, Colombia
Makayla Cooper Freshman Homewood, Ill.
Beronica De Olea Sophomore Dominican Republic
Karolina Eged Freshman Hungary
Adlie Farlow Freshman Camp Point, Ill.
Mackenzie Jackson Freshman Champaign, Ill.
Alex Lane-Thomas Freshman Decatur, Ill.
McKenzie Love Freshman Effingham, Ill.
Elisabel Monge Freshman El Paso, Texas
Alisa Rodionova Sophomore Moscow, Russia

 

A group photo of the 2026 Lake Land College Volleyball team following its Region XXIV Championship victory.
The Lake Land College Lakers Volleyball team won the Region XXIV Championship on Saturday, October 31 with a 3-1 victory over the Vincennes University Trailblazers.
Pictured 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; Volleyball Assistant Coach Elizabeth Vanneste.
Pictured back row (left to right): Lake Land College Volleyball Head Coach Lainey Jackson; Assistant Volleyball 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; Fitness Center Specialist Michael Dietz.

 

 

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