Volleyball
Last night’s IHSA volleyball action came solely from Class 1A regionals. At the Williamsfield Regional, the United Red Storm beat Ridgewood by identical scores of 25-14. The Red Storm improve to (31-5) overall and were led by Josie Bentz’s 14 kills, Jenna Bentz’s 14 assists and Maddy Diaz’s eight digs. The Red Storm will now play for a regional title tonight at 6:00 at Williamsfield High School. United will be playing the Elmwood Trojans. The Trojans knocked off the Brimfield Lady Indians in three setst in the night’s second semi-final. Elmwood is (25-4) now and they were led by Taylor Herman’s 11 kills and 11 digs. Alexia Herman dished out 32 assists for the Trojans as well. United and Elmwood did not face each other during the regular season.
Lincoln Trail Conference regular season champ, Princeville, will play for a regional title as well tonight at the Annawan Regional. The Lady Princes defeated Wethersfield 25-15, 25-15. St. Bede won the other semi-final from Annawan beating the host Bravettes 25-23, 25-15. Princeville and St. Bede did not play each other either during the regular season.
The perennially strong West Prairie Cyclones will try get themselves another regional crown tonight at the Bushnell-Prairie City 1A regional. The Cyclones, which won a state championship in 2016, will play Illini Bluffs this evening at 6:00 in Bushnell. Illini Bluffs will bring a (35-1) record into the regional title tilt. They knocked off Peoria Christian last night, 25-5, 25-12.
In 2A regional championships tonight, the Macomb Bombers face off with one of their long-time rivals, Illini West, at the Rushville-Industry regional championship. The Bombers are (29-7), while the Illini West Chargers are (30-6). These teams faced each other way back at the start of the regular season on August 31st at the WIU Tournament. Macomb won that one in straight sets.
Also, (34-1) Orion takes on (22-14) Princeton at the Princeton Regional. Despited being Three Rivers Conference members, albeit in different divisions, these two did not see each other during the regular season.
Junior High
The Monmouth-Roseville 7th grade Lady Titans defeated the Orion Chargers 36-12. The Titans led at halftime 9-7, but would outscore Orion 21-1 in the third quarter. Leading scorers for the Titans were Mia Reynolds with 13 points and Brianna Woodard with 10 points. Overall record is now 11-3. The 8th Grade Lady Titans moved to 11-5 on the season after beating the Orion Chargers 29-14. Leading scorers for the Titans were Brianna Woodard and Meyah Hunter each with 6pts.
The Knoxville Blue Bullet 7th grade girls basketball team edged out Sherrard 27-26 in Knoxville. Ella Hebard and Maddy Hilgenberg led Knoxville with 11 and 9 points, respectively. Sherrard earned a split on the night as the Tiger 8th grade beat the Blue Bullets 31-24 in the nightcap. Lainey Tuthill and Ella Hebard each scored eight points to lead Knoville.
