Youthful, exuberant Chargers prepare to face Raiders for regional championship

QUINCY — If pressed, Dakota Lafferty will admit, at times, it is difficult not to look toward next season.

Considering her Illini West volleyball team will play Quincy Notre Dame for a Class 2A QND Regional title Thursday, what’s the deal, Dakota?

“We don’t have any seniors,” she said. “We start two freshmen, three sophomores and a junior.”

As good as the 28-8 Chargers are now, next season could be a real game changer.

And Lafferty knows it.

“This team has (already) accomplished more than I expected it would at the beginning of the season,” Lafferty said moments after Illini West eliminated West Hancock 25-14, 25-21 at The Pit in the second of two regional semifinal games Tuesday evening.

Illini West confronts QND (31-3) at 6 p.m. Thursday in the regional championship game. Notre Dame ousted Pittsfield 25-8, 25-5 in Tuesday’s other semifinal.

Lafferty said being able to play — and win — a set at The Pit prior to meeting the Raiders (31-3) for the regional title was a huge benefit.

Arguably, Lafferty felt the most important intangible for the youthful Chargers was being able to get through the expected dose of first-round postseason nerves before the matchup with a QND program that has won six regionals in the last seven years. Illini West’s last regional championship came five years ago. 

“We control what we can,” Lafferty said. “We’re looking forward to Thursday.”

The regional championship will be the second meeting of the year between Illini West and QND. The Raiders won a September 22 matchup in Quincy 25-15, 25-18. Playing on the road is nothing new for the Chargers, who are 22-5 away from their Carthage home.

Abi White contributed 13 service points, Josie Bryan 12 kills and Reagan Reed 12 assists for Illini West, which entered the postseason following back-to-back setbacks to Unity and Southeastern. 

West Hancock ended its season 16-15.