Volleyball regionals
2A Volleyball regionals
At Bureau Valley
Favorite: Mendota (26-9). Watch out for: Princeton (26-6-1).
Pairings: Thursday — Match 1, 1 Mendota vs. 4 Riverdale (24-6), 6 p.m. Match 2, Bureau Valley (20-1) vs. Princeton, 7 p.m. Saturday: Title — winners 1-2, 6 p.m.
Outlook: This regional field is loaded with four 20-win teams on hand. Princeton returns to the same floor from which it started the season, defeating the Storm 25-16, 18-25, 25-21 in its second match, BV’s first. The Tigresses are still looking to find their identity, coming off the heels of last year’s state tournament run, and hope to recapture the postseason magic, once again. Senior setter Molly Stephens and senior libero Slyvie Tracy anchor the team, returning from last year’s state squad along with hitters Jacquie and Jolynn Kane and Sarah Maynard. The Kane sisters combined for 17 kills against BV. ... The Storm have come on strong behind seniors Lauren Hasbrook, Gabby Fisch and Melanie Thompson and juniors Aubrey Franklin and Sam Shepard to reach the 20-win plateau. ... Riverdale captured the Three Rivers crown with a 13-1 record, twice defeating the Storm, in three sets at BV and in two sets at Port Byron. The Rams could as easily be the No. 1 seed as the No. 4, PHS coach Andy Puck says. ... Mendota, which split two matches with Princeton, finished 6-4 in the NCIC Lincoln, sharing third-place with PHS and Rock Falls. The Spikers defeated the Storm in last year’s regional finals and it’s not out of the realm of possibility they could meet again.
Last year’s finals: Princeton def. Hall; Mendota def. Bureau Valley.
Kevin Hieronymus’ pick: Princeton over Mendota.
Next: Oregon Sectional vs. winner of Byron regional, 6 p.m. Tuesday.
At Fieldcrest
Favorite: IVC (23-3).
Pairings: Thursday: Match 1 — 4 Kewanee (7-18-1) vs. 5 Fieldcrest, 5:30 p.m. Match 2 — 2 Hall (9-24) vs. St. Bede (16-11-2), 6:30 p.m. Match 3 — 1 IVC vs. winner 1, 7:30 p.m.
Outlook: The Grey Ghosts are heavily favored with a strong cast of talent from the NCIC Lincoln championship squad, led by 6-3 blocker Lacy Peterson and all-conference hitter Kelsey Brooke. Still, IVC can expect a good battle on its hands from the winner between Hall and St. Bede. The Lady Bruins may be peaking at the right time, bringing its “A” team together for the first time after facing bouts of sickness and injury to key personnel. I told the girls, “If we beat Hall on Thursday, that means we’ve got 24 hours to figure out Chillicothe,” SB coach Dawn Williams said. ... First-year Hall coach Dani Zellmer looks for the effort from her squad they showed when rallying to beat Princeton Oct. 15. She knows the Lady Devils will have to be prepared for St. Bede’s blocking game, utilizing the hitting of Mickey Victor, Katelyn Rainer and Brigitte Klein. ... The entire regional tournament is being played in Wenona at Fieldcrest Middle School due to gym floor problems at the high school.
Last year’s finals: Princeton def. Hall.
Kevin Hieronymus’ pick: IVC over St. Bede.
Next: Chillicothe Sectional vs. winner of El Paso regional, 6 p.m. Tuesday.
1A Volleyball Regionals
At Midland
Favorite: Flanagan-Cornell (13-19).
Pairings: Wednesday: 4 Henry 25, 25 5 Putnam County 12, 18; 1 Flanagan-Cornell 25, 25, Henry 14, 17. Thursday: Match 3 — 7 DePue vs. 2 Roanoke-Benson (13-13), 5:30 p.m. Match 4 — 3 Lowpoint-Washburn vs. 1 Flanagan-Cornell. Match 5 — winners 3-4, 7:30 p.m.
Outlook: Flanagan was a regional power in the former two-class system and has won five regionals in the past six years, including a fourth-place state finish in 2006.
Kevin Hieronymus’ pick: Flanagan over R-B.
Next: Streator Sectional vs. winner of LeRoy regional, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
At Somonauk
Favorite: Newark (21-11). Watch out for: Marquette (18-10).
Pairings: Wednesday — 4 Somonauk 25, 25, 5 Serena 16, 18. 1 Newark 25, 25, Somonauk 13, 10. Thursday — Match 3, 7 LaMoille/Ohio (5-22) vs. 2 Indian Creek, 5:30 p.m. Match 4, 3 Paw Paw (14-13) vs. 6 Ottawa Marquette. Match 5, winners 3-4, 7:30 p.m. Saturday — Match 6, Newark vs. winner of match 5, 1 p.m.
Outlook: Marquette, which moves from 2A to 1A this season, won the Tri-County season and tournament championships, but was seeded sixth because it lost early in the season to Newark, Somonauk and Serena.
Last year’s finals: Newark def. Somonauk.
Kevin Hieronymus’ pick: Marquette over Newark.
Next: Serena Sectional vs. winner of Morgan Park regional, 6 p.m. Tuesday.
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