Crossroads Classic Volleyball Tournament Set for Tonight, Saturday

The 27th Annual Crossroads Classic Volleyball Tournament returns to Effingham this weekend.

Generally regarded as the strongest high school tournament in Illinois south of the Chicago area, it's loaded with powerful teams. It's an opportunity to see teams that will be competing in their state series after most other teams have been eliminated.

Last year's post season was typical. Belleville Althoff won the 3A state championship in Illinois, while Normal U High finished third. Windsor/Stew-Stras finished second in 1A. In Missouri, Festus St. Pius X took home the 2A state title and Hermann grabbed third place in that same series. One of this year's newcomers, Ozark, finished second in Missouri's 4A finals. South of the Ohio River, McCracken County wound up third in Kentucky's single class system.

The tournament is hosted by Effingham High School and Stew-Stras High School. All the action takes place at EHS, Effingham Junior High and Sacred Heart School. Pool play in the 24-team event begins tonight at 6:00, and the gold, silver and bronze flight brackets start at 8:30 Saturday morning. 60 matches will lead up to the champion being crowned at about 5:00 Saturday afternoon.

There is plenty of local flavor. In addition to Effingham and Windsor/Stew-Stras, Teutopolis is back this season and Dieterich is a late entrant to complete the field.

SCHEDULE:

EHS #1

6pm--McCracken County vs. Effingham

7pm--Bloomington vs. Teutopolis

8:10pm--Ozark vs. Teutopolis

9:20pm--Ozark vs. Bloomington

EHS #2

6pm--Edwardsville vs. Centennial

7pm--Hermann vs. Centennial

8:10pm--Edwardsville vs. Hermann

9:20pm--Normal U High vs. Dieterich

EHS #3

6pm--Windsor/Stew-Stras vs. Breese Central

7pm--Glenbard West vs. Breese Central

8:10pm--St. Francis vs. Massac County

9:20pm--St. Francis vs. Visitation

EHS #4

6pm--Althoff vs. Carbondale

7pm--Chatard vs. Carbondale

8:10pm--Althoff vs. Chatard

9:20pm--Glenbard vs. Windsor/Stew-Stras

SACRED HEART

6pm--Visitation vs. Massac County

7pm--Naperville vs. Moline

8:10pm--Moline vs. Greenwood

9:20pm--Naperville vs. Greenwood

EFFINGHAM JR HIGH

6pm--Normal U High vs. Ursuline

7pm--Ursuline vs. Dieterich

8:10pm--Libertyville vs. Effingham

9:20pm--Libertyville vs. McCracken County

Bracket play on Saturday will be determined by order of finish tonight in pool play. Saturday matches will begin at 8:30am. All teams will play three matches on Saturday and will have their first match at either 8:30am or 9:40am.