St. Elmo Wins Sectional Championship

LEBANON -- Continuing to sail through uncharted waters, St. Elmo High School captured its first-ever sectional volleyball championship Thursday evening in the Class 1A Lebanon Sectional. And . . . the Eagles did it against Lebanon on its home court. And . . . after losing the opening set.

Lebanon came out taking the first set 25-19. St. Elmo then moved across the court and things began to fall into place. The Eagles could do almost no wrong in taking the second set 25-9. The passes were hitting the right players and balls were dropping into spots that were open.

But in the third set, St. Elmo struggled for a while, falling behind before pulling back into contention and going out at 25-22 to claim the title. Serving was the big difference in the contest through all three sets according to Coach Elise Asher.

Savannah Feezel put down 10 kills while Katie Stites and Megan Maxey chipped in with six each. Heather Siebert led in aces with two. Manley had 31 assists and 14 digs while Maxey led in the dig department with 17.

St. Elmo had won only three regional titles in school history up to this season. Coach Asher has headed the program for 17 years.

St. Elmo advances to the Valmeyer Super-Sectional Saturday where it will face host Valmeyer at 4 p.m. Valmeyer won the Marissa Sectional in two sets, 25-23, 25-18. Valmeyer sports a 29-9 record. The winner advances to the Class 1A State Tournament next weekend at Normal's Redbird Arena.

Class 1A Stewardson-Strasburg Sectional

Kansas Tri-County ended Arthur-Lovington's run in two sets 25-14, 25-18 to win the Stew-Stras title.

Kansas Tri-County moves to the Windsor Super-Sectional Saturday where it will take on Edinburg at 1 p.m. Edinburg won the Carrollton Sectional 25-22, 17-25, 26-24.

Class 2A Cumberland Sectional

Pana High School claimed its second-straight three set victory to win the Cumberland Sectional championship.

Pana won the opener 25-14 but lost the second set to Carlinville 25-13. Pana jumped out to the early lead in the third set and went on to win 25-19.

Nadine Vaughn and Allie Schoonover led the Panthers in kills with seven each. Kristina Pollman put up 13 blocks. Raven Horsthemke had 13 assists. The Panthers advance with a 31-7 record to face Edwards County (Albion) at the Effingham St. Anthony Super-Sectional Saturday at 4 p.m. Edwards County beat Sparta 25-22, 18-25, 25-14 to win the Nashville Sectional.

Class 3A Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin Sectional

Mattoon saw its season come to an end in the Sacred Heart-Griffin Sectional. The Green Wave fell to Jacksovnille 25-7, 25-20.

Taylor Smith had six kills for Mattoon. Leah Buck and Sammy Thompson had two blocks each. Thompson led in digs with nine. Jamie Packer, the lone senior on the team, had 11 assists and six digs.

Class 1A Sectional Scores

Lebanon -- St. Elmo beat Lebanon, 19-25, 25-9, 25-22

Stewardson-Strasburg -- Kansas Tri-County beat Arthur-Lovington 25-14, 25-18

Carrollton -- Edinburg beat Jacksonville Routt 25-22, 17-25, 26-24

Danville Schlarman -- Danville Schlarman beat Streator Woodland, 25-18, 25-14

Elgin Harvest Christian Academy -- Elgin Harvest Christian Academy beat Chicago Morgan Park Academy, 25-13, 25-18

Marissa -- Valmeyer beat Goreville, 25-23, 25-18

Polo -- Rockford Keith Country Day School beat Stockton, 25-21, 20-25, 25-16

Williamsfield -- Mount Pulaski beat Sciota West Prairie, 25-22, 25-15

Class 2A Sectional Scores

Byron -- Dakota beat Oregon 25-13, 25-22

Camp Point Central -- Deer Creek-Mackinaw beat Williamsville 25-21, 34-32, 25-23

Chicago Christ the King -- Chicago University beat Chicago F.W. Parker 25-16, 25-9

Nashville -- Edwards County (Albion) beat Sparta 25-22, 18-25, 25-14

Seneca -- Watseka beat Seneca 25-23, 19-25, 25-21

Sherrard -- Port Byron Riverdale beat Orion 25-16, 25-21

St. Joseph-Ogden -- Decatur St. Teresa beat Downs Tri-Valley 25-17, 23-25, 25-18

Cumberland -- Pana beat Carlinville 25-14, 13-25, 25-19

Class 3A Sectional Scores

Chicago Orr -- Chicago Resurrection beat River Grove Guerin 25-18, 23-25, 25-14

Glen Ellyn Glenbard South -- Wheaton St. Francis beat Joliet Catholic Academy 25-15, 24-26, 30-28

Mendota -- Rock  Falls beat Dunlap 25-11, 25-18

Murphysboro -- Columbia beat Breese Mater Dei 13-25, 27-25, 31-29

Normal University -- Champaign Centenial beat Metamora 25-10, 25-16

Park Forest Rich East -- Palos Heights Chicago Christian beat Lansing Illiana Christian 25-16, 25-20

Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin -- Jacksonville beat Mattoon 25-7, 25-20

Woodstock Marian -- Richmond-Burton beat Woodstock  Marian 25-21, 24-26, 25-22

Class 4A Sectional

Algonquin Jacobs -- Crystal Lake Prairie Ridge beat Rockford Boylan Catholic 25-21, 16-25, 25-17

Elgin Larkin -- Glen Ellyn Glenbard West beat Geneva 25-72, 27-25, 25-21

Napervile Neuqua Valley -- Lisle Benet Academy beat Lemont 25-14, 25-15

New Lenox Lincoln-Way Central -- Chicago Mother McAuley beat Palos Hills Stagg 25-16, 25-19

Normal Community -- Edwardsville beat Normal Community West 20-25, 25-17, 25-15

Palatine Fremd -- Libertyville beat Palatine 25-21, 25-14

Riverside-Brookfield -- Hinsdale Central beat Darien Hinsdale South 15-25, 25-21, 25-18

Skokie Niles North -- Winnetka New Trier beat Skokie Niles West 25-17, 26-24