Rock Island takes over top spot in volleyball standings

Autumn Turner has played a big part in Rock Island’s unbeaten start in Church League Volleyball.

Rock Island Church of Christ has surged to the top of the leaderboard in Church League Volleyball.

The squad moved to 5-0 Thursday, sweeping Called to Serve 27-25 and 25-21 in the nightcap of another busy evening at McMinnville Church of God. The win, coupled with the Old Testament Athletes tasting defeat for the first time earlier in the night, vaulted Rock Island Church of Christ to the top of the standings.

The formula for success for Rock Island is simple: rely on a barrage of serves from former Lady Broncos and then let Logan McCormack dominate the net.

Former Boyd standouts Krista Chisam, Autumn Turner and Anslee McCrary have all made major impacts for Rock Island, while McCormack - a gentle giant until it's time to spike - uses every bit of his 6-foot-6 frame to cover nearly every inch of the net.

Chisam's dominance starts at the service line, but she's also one of the league's best setters, capable of covering the entire court while delivering picture-perfect sets at the net for McCormack and others. McCrary is another all-out hustler, more than willing to make diving plays that can swing the outcome of a match.

Turner's serving has also been a catalyst for the team, as has her front-row hitting.

While Rock Island enters the holiday weekend in first place, Westwood Church of Christ is also riding a wave of momentum into the Fourth of July. The group topped First Baptist Church 25-12 and 25-16 Thursday, improving to 4-2 and pushing itself further into the conversation among the league's top contenders.

Westwood will get a chance to climb even higher in the standings when play resumes Tuesday, July 7. The group opens the night against Rolling Acres BIC at 5:30 p.m. before closing with a showdown against the Cross Denominators at 8:30 p.m. Other Tuesday matchups include Rock Island Church of Christ putting its unbeaten record on the line against McMinnville Church of God at 6:30 p.m. and Covenant Fellowship Church taking on First Baptist Church at 7:30 p.m.

Standings

Rock Island Church of Christ 5-0
Old Testament Athletes 6-1
Cross Denominators 4-1
Westwood Church of Christ 4-2
Called to Serve 3-3
McMinnville Church of God 3-4
Covenant Fellowship Church 3-4
Rolling Acres BIC 1-3
First Baptist Church 1-4
Safe Harbor Church of God 0-8