Sauk Valley Community College's women's volleyball team swept Triton College 25-17, 25-13, 25-16 in the NJCAA D2 Region 4 quarterfinal, sending the Skyhawks into the semifinals while their longtime coach recovers in the hospital from a heart attack suffered after practice.
Jay Howell had the heart attack after practice, according to Shaw Local, and assistant coach Abby Cox, who is his daughter, said he is okay and recovering in the hospital. Cox told the outlet that doctors found the blockage and were able to put a stent in, and that he was transferred from ICU to a regular room. Kailee Williams, one of the Skyhawks' sophomores, learned of Howell's health situation Wednesday morning, hours before the team took the court.
The Skyhawks played with their coach on their minds. Sawyer Secrist led the offense with nine kills, while Kailee Williams and Madyson Tichler each added eight kills and Joselyn Petersen chipped in six, per the same account. Madison Shaffer anchored the defense with 10 digs as the third-seeded Skyhawks improved to 21-15 on the season.
A Program Built Over Sixteen Seasons
Howell's imprint on the program runs deep. He has compiled a 428-209 record across 16 seasons at Sauk Valley Community College, according to the school's athletics department. He has been named Region 4 Coach of the Year seven times, and his teams have won eight Arrowhead Conference regular-season championships. Under his direction, Sauk Valley has qualified for the NJCAA Division II National Tournament eight times, in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2025.
This year's group of four sophomores has its own case for distinction, having completed an undefeated run at home and in the Arrowhead Conference during their two-year careers, the report noted. Sauk Valley went unranked for the season despite playing a strong schedule that included ranked opponents. The contrast echoes the program's 2025 playoff opener, when the 16th-ranked Skyhawks, then carrying a 27-12 record, swept 14th-seeded Triton 25-18, 25-11, 25-17, a year after taking a No. 1 seed but falling short of qualifying for nationals.
Stakes Rise Heading Into the Semifinal
Cox said the Skyhawks could still make the national tournament, underscoring what is on the line this weekend. The third-seeded Skyhawks are scheduled to face second-seeded Morton at 6 p.m. Saturday at Madison College in Wisconsin, with Madison College and Oakton playing the other semifinal at 4 p.m. the same day. The Region 4 finals are scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Sunday, and the regional winner automatically qualifies for the 2026 NJCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Tournament.
Shaw Local reported the national tournament is set for November 18-21 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For now, the Skyhawks' focus stays on Madison College, where a win would keep alive a season their coach said he would watch unfold from the hospital.
