Newton's Season Comes To End, Clay City Advances To S-S

ST. ELMO -- Clay City High School's volleyball team has done something no other Clay City team has done in the school's history . . . advanced to super-sectional action.

The Wolves downed Centralia Christ Our Rock Lutheran 25-17, 25-18 to win the Class 1A St. Elmo/Brownstown Sectional Thursday evening. Clay City, 29-2, now advances to the Centralia Christ Our Rock Lutheran Super-Sectional Saturday.

The two teams had met earlier in the season with Clay City coming out on top in three sets.

This time around, Paige Spitzner and sister, Peyton combined for nine blocks. Hannah Dulaney had four blocks and four kills. Macy Hance finished with eight kills.

The Wolves will now face Valmeyer at 2 p.m. for the right to head to the State Tournament at Redbird Arena in Normal Friday and Saturday, Nov. 13-14.

Valmeyer claimed Tthe Norris City-Omaha-Enfield Sectional with a 25-17, 17-25, 25-23 win over Christopher.

Four super-sectionals, with the Elite Eight teams, are on tap for Saturday with one here in Effingham at St. Anthony High School. Cissna Park will take on Mount Pulaski at 1 p.m. At Elgin Westminster Christian, Elgin will face Harvest Christian Academy at 1 p.m., at Hartsburg-Emden Lexington faces Kewanee Wethersfield at 4:30 p.m.

At St. Elmo

Clay City -- Ma. Hance, 8 kills, 7 digs; Dulaney, 4 kills, 1 ace, 4 blocks; Pa. Spitzner, 3 kills, 4 blocks; Pe. Spitzner, 3 kills, 1 ace, 5 blocks; Me. Hance, 5 aces, 13 assists; Bangert, 1 ace, 6 digs; Rodriguez, 6 digs

Class 2A Shelbyville Sectional

Newton didn't reach the Elite Eight. The Eagles fell to host Shelbyville 25-20, 28-26.

The Eagles held a 20-18 lead in the first set. But the Rams scored the next seven points to take the victory. Then it was a hard-fought victory in the second set. Shelbyville reaches the Elite Eight for the first time since 2010.

Newton was led by Taylor Johnson with 10 digs, two aces and six kills. Hartrich led in assists with 13 and Kline led in blocks with five. The Eagles end the season with a 30-8 record.

Shelbyville advances to the Fairfield Super-Sectional Saturday with a 36-3 record to face Belleville Althoff Catholic. Althoff claimed the Nashville Sectional title by beating Anna-Jonesboro 25-10, 25-14. The two teams will square off at 1 p.m.

In other 2A super-sectionals, Watseka takes on Elmhurst Timothy Christian at 1 p.m. at Beecher, Fulton faces Orion at 7 p.m. at Manlius Bureau Valley and Williamsville faces Bloomington Central Catholic at 7 p.m. at Warrensburg-Latham Saturday.

At Shelbyville

Newton -- Johnson, 2 aces, 6 kills, 1 block, 10 digs; Kline, 1 ace, 2 kills, 2 assists, 5 blocks, 5 digs; Hartrich, 1 ace, 5 kills, 13 assists, 1 block, 4 digs; Weber, 1 ace, 2 assists, 6 digs; Frohning, 5 kills, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 dig; Bergbower, 2 kills, 2 digs; Pilman, 1 assist, 6 digs