Ottumwa -- In a battle of two teams rated in the top ten in the preseason polls, Indian Hills took care of visiting DMACC in three straight sets in the season opener for both schools on Monday. The set scores were identical with IHCC winning 25-14 in all three.
Indian Hills is ranked No. 8 in the NJCAA Division I poll, the highest preseason ranking ever for an IHCC team. DMACC starts the year in the No. 5 spot in the DII poll.
Monday's match was played in the Warriors' new home, the Hellyer Student Life Center. The Tom Arnold Net Center had been the homecourt for the volleyball program for over a dozen years before the switch was made to the Hellyer Center.
Freshman Camila Nicoletti, who is being counted on to replace some of the graduated firepower from last year's squad, led IHCC at the net with 14 kills and also contributed 17 digs. Another first-year player, Chen Shenglan, added 11 kills to the Indian Hills attack.
The Warriors will go to the Wisconsin Dells this weekend for four matches, two on Saturday and two on Sunday, in the Battle for the Dells.