Stewardson Trinity Wins Crossroads Classic

Members of Stewardson Trinity Lutheran volleyball team are, front row, left to right, Alaira Friese, Isabelle Gratz, Halle Moomaw, Kinley Quast, Gabby Vonderheide, Addie Wernsing and Ella Kinkelaar. Back row, left to right, Coach Tammy Manhart, Brinlie Durbin, Madison Beitz, Marisa Daniels, Brenna Musson, Mollie Slifer, Coach Katie Durbin and Coach Bridgitte Friese.

Stewardson Trinity Lutheran Junior High School claimed the championship of the Effingham Eighth-Grade Volleyball Tournament.

Trinity Lutheran defeated Mount Pulaski, 25-5, 25-16 then won over Murphysboro 25-15, 25-6. Trinity Lutheran downed Massac County, 25-12, 25-10 and won the title with a victory over Harrisburg 25-12, 25-19.

"This was one of our goals after falling short last year," said Coach Tammy Manhart. "We said at the start of this season this year we wanted to win the Effingham Eighth-Grade Tournament. The girls played great the whole day. They never got intimidated by who was on the other side of the net. They just played hard and smart like always.

"This is a very tough tournament with many top teams in the state competing. This is a first for Trinity so I am very proud of these girls. We have a few more matches left in regular season and then post-season. We have high hopes for post-season as well."

At Effingham

Stewardson Trinity -- Kinkelaar, 18 points, 6 aces, 19 kills, 48 assists, 19 digs; Friese, 15 points, 2 aces, 4 kills, 37 assists, 8 digs, 1 block; Vonderheide, 34 points, 15 aces, 39 kills, 2 assists, 33 digs; Wernsing, 32 points, 7 aces, 9 kills, 1 assist, 28 digs, 1 block; Moomaw, 29 points, 13 aces, 25 kills, 1 assist, 6 digs, 6 blocks; Gratz, 9 points, 2 aces, 5 kills, 1 assist, 1 dig; Quast, 1 assist, 21 digs