Collision a literal headache for ACC

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — This wasn’t quite the head-to-head matchup Allen Community College head coach was looking for.
The Red Devils, in Illinois for the Lincoln Land Volleyball Tournament, found themselves two players short following a violent collision in the second game of the event.
Jacqui Ortiz and Tayler Shook had both attempted to dive after a ball in the center of the court against host Lincoln Land when they collided head-on. Shook required 10 stitches and Ortiz had “a large headache,” Red Devil head coach Jessica Peters said.
Both were sidelined for the rest of the tournament.
Their absences had an ancillary benefit for Allen, which went 1-3 in tournament play.
“We made adjustments and proved to be successful under these conditions,” Peters said.
Allen lost 18-25, 26-24, 25-20, 25-20  to John A. Logan College, a Division I community college in Carterville, Ill., on Friday; then lost to host Lincoln Land, a Division II school, 25-15, 25-18, 15-12 to open Saturday’s play. 
Next up was another Division II school, Vincennes (Ind.) University, which defeated the Red Devils 25-22, 25-23, 25-19.
Allen wrapped up tournament play on a high note, defeating Harper College, a Division III school based out of Palatine, Ill., 20-25, 25-17, 25-23, 25-17.
“We were definitely a comparable team to (others) at this tournament,” Peters said. “We had individuals who needed to find themselves for the team to be successful. We had athletes playing positions they had not been exposed to as often this season, but they made adjustments and we saw Allen compete with some and defeat others.”
Hayley Mertens led the way for the Red Devils, racking up 61.5 points over the four-game tournament. She delivered 52 kills, had six aces, seven block assists and 54 digs.
Peters also pointed to the efforts by sophomores Autumn Douglas and Randi Billings, who stepped up with 23.5 and 26.5 points, respectively.
“We are pleased with their personal performances,” Peters said. “We hope they will take the confidence they built up and apply it within the two conference matches we will face this week.”
Allen travels to Labette Community College this evening and to Johnson County Community College Wednesday.
Individual statistics follow for Allen over the four matches:
Tayler Shook, 6 digs; Danielle Goodman, 16 kills, 1 set assist, 30 digs, four solo blocks, three block assists, 21.5 points; Sierra Morgison, 15 kills, 2 service aces, 22 digs, 2 block assists, 18 points; Sidney Keith, 13 kills, 2 set assists, 2 aces, 4 solo blocks, 8 block assists, 23 points; Adriee Munoz, 2 kills, 92 set assists, 48 digs, 2 block assists, 3 points; Sarah Charbonneau, 1 kill, 1 set assist, 65 digs, 2 points; Jacqui Ortiz, 19 set assists, 19 digs; Cheyanne Miller, 1 kill, 1 set assist, 4 digs, 1 block assist, 1.5 points; Hayley Mertens, 52 kills, 1 set assist, 6 aces, 54 digs, 7 block assists, 61.5 points; Randi Billings, 15 kills, 1 set assist, 1 ace, 10 digs, 6 solo blocks, 9 block assists, 26.5 points; Autumn Douglas, 13 kills, 6 set assists, 5 aces, 21 digs, 3 solo blocks, 5 block assists, 23.5 points.