Olive-Harvey sweeps away the competition, wins Region 4 championship
CHICAGO, ILL. - A pair of sweeps resulted in the Olive-Harvey College women's volleyball team winning the first Region 4 championship in school history after a 3-0 decision over defending champion Malcolm X College in the 2024 Region 4 Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament. Head coach Rakecia Jenkins was named the Region 4 Coach of the Year.
The top-seeded Panthers opened postseason play with a 3-0 defeat of #4-seeded Kennedy-King College by scores of 25-11, 25-11, 25-11 in the semifinals, while #3-seeded Malcolm X College needed five sets to pull off a 3-2 upset over #2 Wilbur Wright College with scores of 25-27, 25-19, 26-24, 19-25, 15-9. In the title match, Olive-Harvey won each set by an average of 12.3 points against the Hawks. A balanced attack saw five different players register a team-leading five kills, including Essence Keel, Rayon Thigpen, Ameria Leonard, Crystyna Yates, and Saniya Howard. Cristal Lopez steered the offense with 25 assists. Olive-Harvey finished with 22 aces, led by six from Keel and five by Lopez. (Recap/Video: Olive-Harvey)
Olive-Harvey College advanced to the NJCAA Midwest District B Tournament, held by Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville, Illinois, from November 8-10. The Panthers opened against the host Blue Storm and lost 3-0. The loss ends the Olive-Harvey College season with a record of 16-25. (Recap: Olive-Harvey)
(Images courtesy of Olive-Harvey College Athletics)
2024 Region 4 Coach of the Year
Rakecia Jenkins - Olive-Harvey College