St. Anthony, WSS Advance, EHS Falls In Sectional Volleyball Action

The Bulldogs claimed the opener 25-20 but Hardin Calhoun Co-op came back with a 25-23 win. Going into the third set, the Bulldogs surged to a 25-20 win for the match.

Abbi Hatton had 22 kills for the Bulldogs while Maddie Kibler led in aces with three and digs with 27. Anna Niemeyer led at the net in blocks with three. Addie Wernsing had 24 assists.

The Bulldogs improve to 31-8 on the season.

In the opener, Valmeyer was a winner over Nokomis in a long match. Valmeyer won the opening set 26-24 before Nokomis fought back to take the second set 26-24. Valmeyer then pulled out the victory, 25-23.

St. Anthony will square off against Valmeyer at 6 p.m. Wednesday for the sectional championship and a berth in the Okawville Super-Sectional Friday.

Class 1A Nokomis Sectional

St. Anthony -- Wernsing, 24 assists; Rudolphi, 3 kills, 2 blocks, 4 digs; Coffin, 1 kill, 2 blocks, 3 digs; Vonderheide, 1 ace, 12 assists, 7 digs; Hatton, 22 kills, 2 blocks, 10 digs; Nuxoll, 3 kills, 2 blocks, 1 assist, 14 digs; C. Hatton, 4 kills, 2 blocks, 4 assists, 3 digs; Kibler, 1 kill, 3 aces, 27 digs; Niemeyer, 4 kills, 3 blocks

Class 1A Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg Sectional

Hosting a sectional, Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg put on a show before the hometown crowd in downing Champaign Judah Christian, 25-8, 25-7 Monday evening.

Ella Kinkelaar led the team in assists with 20 and had two block assists. Gabby Vonderheide finished with nine kills. Kinley Quast led in aces with three. Anna Albert had eight digs. Ellie Wittenberg had two block assists.

"Thank you to all the fans that came to support the girls," asid WSS Coach Ronda Schlechte. "The gym was packed. I'm so proud of how the girls came out and played tonight.

"I usually find something that we should be doing better but tonight it's all praise. It was fun to watch. Every one of them had a good night and should be proud. Let's carry this on to Wednsday night to the championship game."

In the opener, Cerro Gordo/Bement defeated LeRoy, 25-19, 26-28, 25-19.

Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg will now take on Cerro Gordo/Bement Wednesday for the sectional championship. The winner will advance to the MIlford Super-Sectional Friday.

Class 1A Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg

Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg -- Kinkelaar, 2 aces, 2 kills, 20 assists, 4 digs, 2 block assists; Vonderheide, 9 kills, 3 digs; Moomaw, 2 aces, 7 kills, 1 block assist; Quast, 3 aces, 2 assists, 2 digs; Hayes, 2 kills, 2 digs, 1 block assist; Eident, 1 ace, 3 digs; Wittenberg, 3 kills, 2 block assists; M. Friese, 3 kills, 2 digs; Albert, 1 ace, 1 assist, 8 digs

Class 3A Mascoutah Sectional

Effingham High School saw an outstanding season come to a close in the Mascoutah Sectional Monday evening.

The host  Mascoutah squad was a winner 25-19, 25-20.

"We played really well," said EHS Coach Laurie Bohnhoff. "Mascoutah blocked great. We came out a little slow in the first set and got down 10-2, after that we played with them. The second set we started out with the momentum and strung together a couple kills and a big block by Olivia Katt. We found some holes in their defense but had one or two rotations where we couldn't get a hit around their block.

"They are a tough team and we played with them. I am so proud of how this team played tonight and how well we represented our school. The three seniors will be missed. The kids we have coming back next year are going to be exciting to watch."

Sidney Donaldson, Bria Beals and Bella Austin led in kills with five each. Hannah Thompson had 13 assists and one ace. Raegan Boone and Austin had one each. Donaldson led in blocks with two. Austin led in digs with nine. The Hearts finished the season with a 26-12 record.

In the second contest, Freeburg won over Salem, 25-14, 25-15.

Mascoutah and Freeburg will meet for the sectional championship Wednsday at 6 p.m. with the sinner advancing to the Taylorville Super-Sectional Friday.

Class 3A Mascoutah Sectional

Effingham -- Ballman, 1 dig; Donaldson, 5 kills, 2 blocks; Pullen, 3 assists, 2 digs; Thompson, 13 assists, 1 ace, 4 digs; Delong, 1 kill, 1 assist, 1 block; Beals, 5 kills, 5 digs; Katt, 3 kills, 1 block, 2 digs; Austin, 5 kills, 1 ace, 9 digs