Carothers, Mustangs sweep way to championship of Lady Suns Classic

AUGUSTA, Ill. — Kyra Carothers and the Unity volleyball team made a statement Saturday.

The Mustangs elevated themselves to the team to beat in Class 1A in West-Central Illinois.

Behind an MVP performance from Carothers, the senior outside hitter, Unity swept a pair of matches in the championship pool and won the title of the Lady Suns Classic. The Mustangs beat Illini West 25-16, 25-17 and then dispatched Southeastern 25-17, 25-14.

Southeastern beat Illini West 25-16, 20-25, 25-17 in the other championship pool match.

Unity lost only one set in the week-long event, surviving a 28-30, 25-21, 15-11 marathon against Central in pool play on Tuesday.

Carothers had 11 kills against Illini West, while Ashlynn Arnsman had seven service points and two aces, Caroline Knox had nine digs and Hayden Frankel dished out 14 aassists.

Against Southeastern, Frankel and Knox each had 14 assists, Arnsman collected 12 kills, Kylee Barry had eight digs and Lauren Cornwell finished with six service points.

Arnsman and Barry were named to the all-tournament team along with Carothers.

Southeastern’s Amanda Stephens had 17 kills, 11 assists and three blocks against Illini West and 11 kills, six digs and three blocks against Unity, while Summer Ramsey had 10 digs against Illini West and six against Unity.

Stephens and Ramsey both made the all-tournament team along with Illini West’s Josie Bryan and Kaelyn Ferrill, Brown County’s Katey Flynn, Central’s Lauren Miller, Liberty’s Cora Schuette, Payson Seymour’s Saige Gilmore, Rushville-Industry’s Rachel Norton and West Hancock’s Jordan Climer.