Cobra squad includes two locals

PHOENIX — The Parkland College volleyball team is in the national NJCAA Division II championship tonight (Sat).

For the second consecutive year, coach Cliff Hastings' team will play for the NJCAA Division II championship. Today (5:30 pm.) match comes after the Cobras secured a 3-0 sweep in the semifinals Friday night.

The nationally-ranked Cobras' squad includes two former local standouts from the Sangamon Valley high school conference.

Hayley Gray is a right-side hitter from Watseka High School. Kailey Kleinert is a middle-hitter from PBL High School.

Lizzy Barnard, from Unity, had 11 kills as Parkland overpowered Columbus State 25-23, 26-24, 25-16 in the semi-finals Friday night.

The Cobras (54-2) trailed in the first set 23-22 and in the second set 22-17.

"This is such a unique group," Hastings said. "We don't want to be down, but we can be down and still have a lot of confidence. We don't get rattled or flustered."

-94.1 WGFA