Stew-Stras, Newton Claim Volleyball Regional Crowns

The Effingham St. Anthony Bulldogs and the Effingham Hearts saw their seasons come to a close in volleyball regional action Thursday evening.

St. Anthony fell in the title contest to Kansas Tri-County in the Class 2A Marshall Regional while Effingham lost to Mattoon in the Class 3A Mattoon Regional.

Class 2A Marshall Regional

The Bulldogs came roaring out of the gate with a 25-16 victory over Kansas Tri-County. But Tri-County rallied to take the second game 25-21.

The two went into the final contest and fought through but Tri-County pulled out a 25-22 victory to claim the regional championship.

The Bulldogs were led by Rachel Schultz in digs with 16 and Jena Woltman in assists with 36. Logan Braunecker had 20 kills. Isabel Moore and Andrea Doedtman had one block each. Megan Nuxoll had three aces.

Kansas Tri-County (20-14) advances to the Flora Sectional to face Anna-Jonesboro in the second match at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

At Marshall

St. Anthony -- Esker, 2 digs, 1 kill; Doedtman, 3 digs, 7 kills, 1 block; Wortman, 3 digs, 1 ace; Moore, 3 digs, 1 assist, 1 block; Woltman, 4 digs, 36 assists, 2 aces; Braunecker, 1 dig, 20 kills; Nuxoll, 10 digs, 9 kills, 3 aces; Schultz, 16 digs, 1 ace; Dammerman, 2 digs

Class 3A Mattoon Regional

Mattoon came out strong and took the opener over Effingham 25-14. The Green Wave didn't let up and ended Effingham's dreams of a regional title with a 25-12 victory. It was the third time this season Mattoon, the Apollo Conference champion, downed Effingham.

The Hearts were led by Chandler Ramey with seven kills and seven digs, Felicia Totten with 13 assists and Shelby Nunamaker and Jennifer Fred with a block each. The Hearts end the season with a 22-14 record.

The Green Wave advance to the Benton Sectional Tuesday against Benton at 5:30 p.m. Columbia and Metropolis Massac County square off in match two at 6:30.

At Mattoon

Effingham -- Beals, 1 dig; Mitchell, 4 digs; Roberts, 1 kill; Totten, 13 assists, 5 digs; Nunamaker, 2 kills, 1 dig, 1 block; Fred, 5 kills, 2 digs, 1 block; Ramey, 7 kills, 7 digs; Chrappa, 2 digs

Class 1A Neoga Regional

Two National Trail Conference teams battled for the regional championship at Neoga. Stewardson-Strasburg and Windsor squared off with the Comets pulling out a victory in three games. The two teams will be merging next year as a co-op.

Stew-Stras won the opener 25-14. The Comets scored the first seven points in dominating the Blue Devils. But Windsor came back with a 25-22 victory sending the game into the third set. Stew-Stras then fought to a 25-21 victory for the regional title.

"We are still riding the roller coaster as far as consistency," said Stew-Stras Coach Ronda Schlechte. "We play really tough for a little while but then let down just as fast. We took a big lead in game one but then made several errors before we took the set.

"Game two was back and forth. Like Neoga, Windsor kept on fghting until the end. We had more hitting errors than normal so, hopefully, it's a one time thing."

The Comets were led by Becca Schlechte with four aces and 16 kills. She also had nine assists and 12 digs along with a solo block and two assists. Kendall Knop chipped in with 11 assists and finished with 14 kills and 15 digs. Jill Conder had three block assists.

Windsor was led by Autumn Bennett with eight kills, Claire Pfeiffer with 17 assists and Bayleigh Tabor with 14 digs. The Blue Devils end the season with a 23-8 record.

Stew-Stras advances to the Chrisman Sectional with a 22-14 record. The Comets will face Danville Schlarman at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. In the opening match, Mount Pulaski takes on Farmer City-Blue Ridge at 5:30.

At Neoga

Stew-Stras -- Knop, 14 kills, 11 assists, 15 digs; Schlechte, 4 aces, 16 kills, 9 assists, 12 digs, 1 solo block, 2 block assists; Kaufman, 2 kills, 2 assists, 2 digs, 1 block assist; Conder, 2 kills, 1 dig, 3 block assists; Gentry, 2 aces, 1 kill, 4 digs, 1 solo block; Smith, 3 digs; Probst, 8 assists, 5 digs; Gratz, 1 ace, 10 digs

Windsor -- Hortenstine, 4 digs; Bennett, 8 kills, 1 block, 8 digs; Pfeiffer, 1 ace, 1 kill, 1 block, 17 assists, 4 digs; Tabor, 1 ace, 1 kill, 14 digs; Austin, 1 block, 1 dig; Haddock, 2 kills, 1 dig; Woolard, 1 ace, 7 kills, 2 blocks, 8 digs

Class 2A Robinson Regional

Newton High School claimed the championship of the Robinson Regional in quick fashion.

The Eagles downed host Robinson 25-20, 25-19 to improve to 22-10 on the season. Koebele led the Eagles in aces with four and assists with 17. Litzelman had seven kills. Frohning had a block and Cohorst led in digs with seven.

Newton advances to the Flora Sectional and will face Edwards County (Albion) at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. In the second match, Anna-Jonesboro faces Kansas Tri-County at 6:30.

At  Robinson

Newton -- Koebele, 4 aces, 1 kill, 17 assists, 6 digs; Kline, 2 aces, 2 kills, 2 assists, 4 digs; Kr. Hardiek, 1 ace, 3 kills, 3 digs; Johnson, 1 ace, 5 kills, 4 digs; Ka. Hardiek, 1 ace, 6 digs; Litzelman, 7 kills; Frohning, 3 kills, 1 block, 4 digs; Cohorst, 1 assist, 7 digs

Class 1A Hutsonville Regional

Cowden-Herrick saw its hopes for a regional championship go down. Hutsonville won a hard-fought opener 30-28 over the Hornets.

Hutsonville then won the second game 25-18 for the title. Hutsonville advances  to face Cisne at 6:30 p.m. in the North Clay (Louisville) Sectional Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

Class 1A Centralia Christ Our Rock Lutheran Regional

South Central's season came to a close in the Class 1A Centralia Christ Our Rock Lutheran Reigonal.

The Cougars won the opening game 25-23. Woodlawn then came back to take the second set 25-15 and went out with a 25-17 final score.

Maria Brasel led South Central with 15 kills and three blocks. Emiliy Chapman had 24 assists. Deidra Schaal led in digs with eight. Hannah Rubin had two aces. The Cougars finish the season with a 19-15 record.

At Centralia

South Central -- Brasel, 15 kills, 4 points, 1 ace, 3 blocks; Rubin, 5 kills, 5 points, 2 aces; Sill, 3 kills, 2 blocks, 4 points; Burleyson, 3 kills; Chapman, 24 assists; Harpster, 6 points; Schaal, 8 digs

Class 1A Wayne City Regional

Cisne captured the championship by downing host Wayne City. The Runnin' Lions won 25-12, lost the second game 27-25, then came back with a 25-20 count.

Cisne advances to the North Clay (Louisville) Sectional to face Hutsonville at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Patoka takes on Woodlawn in the opener at 5:30.

Class 2A Litchfield Regional

Carlinville picked up the championship at Litchfield. Shelbyville won the opener 25-19 but Carlinville came back with 25-17, 25-16 wins.

Shelbyville ends the season with a 30-7 record. Carlinville advances to the Sparta Sectional to face Waterloo Gibault at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.