Area Eighth-Grade Volleyball Teams Advance To State

Class 1A

Sigel St. Michael claimed the championship of its own sectional.

The Sharpshooters defeated Martinsville, 25-8, 25-13 to improve to 24-2 on the season.

St. Michael travels to the State Tournament at Kankakee Bishop McNamara to face Grant Park (18-8) at 5:45 p.m. Friday.

Other members of the field include Hartsburg-Emden (22-5), Cissna Park (22-4), Ottawa Marquette (20-2), Augusta Southeastern (26-0), Pontiac St. Mary's (25-2) and Peoria St. Vincent (22-1).

Class 2A

Members of the team include, front row, left to right, Kennedy Kull, Edie Wittenberg, Kendra Hayes, Claire VonBehrens, Addie Porter and Jillian Porter. Back row, left to right, Coach Brianna Hewing, Coach Courtney Wittenberg, Anara Kowalczyk, Sophi Greuel, Grace Figgins, Shae Conder, Brooke Schumacher, Molly Ogle, Maddie Clark, Jackie Vonderheide, Karly Wetherell and Coach Beka Hoene.

Stewardson-Strasburg claimed the championship of the Paris Crestwood Sectional.

Stew-Stras beat Paris Crestwood, 25-17, 25-18. Kendra Hayes led in digs with eight, assists with four and kills with seven. Brooke Schumacher had four aces and two blocks.

"I'm very proud of how these girls have raliled together, everyone knowing the role they need to play," said Coach Courtney Wittenberg. "They never gave up or played content, for both sets were challenging up against a talented Paris Crestwood team, yet they just listened to what needed to be done and where placement needed to be and they executed.

"Our girls fought hard and their growth is shining through. It's pretty special to be a part of both seventh- and eighth-grade teams making it to the state finals this year."

Stew-Stras is now 18-3 on the season and will meet Springfield Christ the King (23-2) at 7 p.m. Friday. in the Class 8-2A State Tournament at Auburn High School.

Other members of the field include Kankakee Bishop McNamara (20-2), London Mills Valley (25-2), Potomac (22-2), Carthage (19-3) and Bloomington Corpus Christi (21-6). The winner of sectional three has not been posted yet.

Class 8-2A Paris Crestwood Sectional

Stewarsdon-Strasburg -- Hayes, 2 aces, 8 digs, 4 assists, 7 kills; VonBehrens, 2 digs, 4 assists, 3 kills; Schumacher, 4 aces, 3 digs, 2 blocks; Kull, 2 aces, 3 digs, 2 assists, 1 kill; Wetherell, 1 ace, 3 digs, 1 assist; Wittenberg, 2 aces, 7 digs, 4 kills

Class 8-3A Paris Mayo Sectional

Teutopolis advances to the Class 8-3A State Tournament after winning the Paris Mayo Sectional Monday.

The Wooden Shoes defeated Arthur, 25-21, 25-19 to improve to 19-7 on the season.

T-town was led by Elise Pals with eight kills and two blocks, Gabby Tegeler with seven aces, Brittany Swingler with nine assists, Madison Probst with nine assists and Marie Zumbahlen with 26 digs,

"One of the great things about coaching this team is that they recover from nerves and runs of errors," said T-town Coach Jim Dietz. "Arthur came out hard, basically punching us in the face and built a 6-0 lead and then a 15-6 lead, but we just kept plugging away. We got a big run of serves from Gabby Tegeler and that fixed everything for us from that point forward. It was great to have the bleachers behind us and across from us full of fans. The girls feed on that support. Now it's on to state."

The Wooden Shoes will head to the Class 3A State Tournament at Pana High School and will meet Morris Saratoga (22-3) at 8:15 p.m. Friday.

Other members of the field include Crest Hill Richland (17-5), Westville (21-0), Downs Tri-Valley (24-2), Germantown Hills (19-5), Athens (22-4) and Staunton (20-4).

Class 8-3A Paris Mayo Sectional

Teutopolis -- Swingler, 1 block, 5 kills, 2 aces, 7 digs, 9 assists; Tegeler, 1 block, 2 kills, 7 aces, 22 digs; Probst, 1 kill, 3 digs, 9 assists; Pals, 2 blocks, 8 kills, 2 aces, 16 digs; Zumbahlen,, 1 kill, 26 digs; Hemmen, 1 assist; Mette, 6 digs; Wernsing, 3 digs; Koester, 1 dig; Lee, 1 dig; Tarter, 1 kill, 2 digs; Meyer, 1 dig