Volleyball
It was regional championship night for high school volleyball teams. Let’s take a look at who will be advancing to next week’s sectional tournaments. Both remaining Western Big Six Conference schools lost last night in regional title tilts. Moline was beaten by Normal West 25-20, 25-19 at United Township High School and Quincy was defeated by Edwardsville 25-15, 25-18 in Edwardsville. Both of those matches were Class 4A regional championship matches.
In Class 2A, the West Central Heat won their first regional championship since the merger of the Union and Southern school districts in 2005. The Heat defeated Illini West 25-16, 25-22 to improve their overall record to (22-11). Corrine Booton led the Heat with nine kills and four blocks. Sadie Lenz handed out 10 assists, Mady Reed had 15 digs and Megan Schaley added 11 digs and for West Central, who will now take on Deer Creek-Mackinaw in the sectional semi-finals at the Field House at United High School at 6:30 on Monday evening. Dee-Mack is (25-10) after beating Illini Bluffs in three sets at the Illini Bluffs regional last night. The Knoxville Blue Bullets season came to an end last night in Aledo. Fifth-seeded Bureau Valley beat the second-seeded Bullets in three sets at Mercer County High School. Makayla Benson led Knoxville, who end their season with a record of (23-9), by Makayla Benson’s five kills and 11 assists. Hannah Thompson also had five kills and added five blocks. Shelby Shreeves dished out 11 assists. Lindsey Lester led the Blue Bullets with 15 digs. BV won three matches in regional play this week and are now (17-16-1). They will battle (32-3) Eureka in the first semi-final on Monday at United High School. The Hornets beat Peru St. Bede 25-18, 25-21 in Granville, Illinois.
Switching to Class 1A regional championships, Wethersfield ran their winning streak to 29 matches with a 25-12, 25-14 victory over Lincoln Trail Conference foe, Princeville in the ROWVA Regional championship match in Oneida. Wethersfield is now (35-1) and were led last night by Brittany Litton’s 19 kills, 12 digs and three aces. Tess Anderson totaled 24 assists for the Flying Geese, who will now play the Prairieland Conference’s Lewistown Indians. The Indians knocked off West Prairie 25-16, 25-17. The (29-6) Indians and Geese will play the second semi-final on Monday at 6:30 at Peoria Heights High School. The Lincoln Trail Conference will also be represented in the sectional tournament by the Annawan Bravettes. They ended Ottawa Marquette’s season with a 25-16, 25-23 win in Varna last night. The (21-11-3) Bravettes have Hartsburg-Emden at 5:30 at Peoria Heights on Monday. Hart-Em beat Roanoke-Benson 25-22, 25-14 in the Hartsburg-Emden regional final.
The Western Big Six Conference released its volleyball All-Conference teams yesterday. Galesburg High School seniors Kylie Fike and Sam Rogers were named to the first team. Conference champs, Moline had three players named to the first team list, that led all schools. They also led everyone with total team honorees, with six girls named between the first and second team.
Junior High
The West Central Heat and ICS Trojan girls basketball teams won Sand Valley Conference Tournament championships last night at ICS Junior High. The ICS 8th grade girls beat West Central 43-29 in the 8th grade title match up. Brianna Woodard had 14 points & Mattie Gillen had 12 for ICS. ICS is now 15-0. West Central did win the 7th grade championship. The Heat beat North Fulton 44-41.
