Posts Tagged ‘Prep volleyball’
Markert’s presence will be invaluable asset as Brown County begins postseason journey
MT. STERLING, Ill. — Brown County girls basketball coach Dave Phelps may not prefer it, but he can live with Hornets senior forward Ashlee Markert leaving a practice early or even missing an occasional team activity. He knows it’s what Markert needs to do. Signed to play volleyball at Western Illinois University, the 6-foot-1 Markert…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Volleyball Player of the Year Annie Eaton discusses QND’s season, her victory-filled four-year career
QUINCY — Coaches, teammates and opponents have used a variety of adjectives to describe Annie Eaton’s impact on the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team and the area volleyball scene the past four years. Strategic. Intelligent. Savvy. Composed. Savage. Dynamic. Lethal. Those are just a few. One sums up her career better than any other. Winner.…
Read MoreRoad block: Koerkenmeier’s stuffs turn tide in third set as Mater Dei ends QND’s season
PANA, Ill. — Even after a season-ending loss, Danielle White could not help but smile when thinking back on her first season as the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball coach. “That’s these girls,” White said of the source of that smile. “Our girls really set a great example, especially for my first year coaching, of what…
Read MoreKeeping the faith: Entrup’s run of service points helps QND rally to win sectional volleyball title
RIVERTON, Ill. — Sydney Entrup believed a little divine intervention wouldn’t hurt. So as she lined up to serve with the third set of Thursday night’s Class 2A Riverton Sectional volleyball championship hanging in the balance, the Quincy Notre Dame senior gave herself an inspirational pep talk. “I just kept going back there and saying,…
Read MorePanthers’ scrappiness not enough to overcome Stags’ offense in sectional championship match
HARTSBURG, Ill. — The scrappiness that catapulted the Camp Point Central volleyball team to Thursday’s Class 1A Hartsburg-Emden Sectional championship match was there. The Panthers just could not translate that scrappiness into enough points. Hartsburg-Emden captured the sectional championship on its home floor by sweeping the Panthers 25-17, 25-19. “It was just too much defense…
Read MoreRaiders use every ounce of energy necessary to rally past Warriors in sectional semifinals
RIVERTON, Ill. — Eva Breckenkamp was running on fumes, but she used what little fuel she had left in the tank to send the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team to the Class 2A Riverton Sectional title match. The Raiders trailed Athens 25-24 in the third and deciding set in Tuesday’s semifinal at the Hawk Center…
Read MoreStrong serving and defense carry Panthers to sweep of Lions and spot in sectional title match
HARTSBURG, Ill. — All of the momentum the Camp Point Central volleyball team created by winning the first set of Tuesday’s Class 1A Hartsburg-Emden Sectional semifinal seemed to fade away rather quickly. It was just a momentary blip. Despite watching Decatur Unity Christian win four of the first five points of the second set, Central…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND volleyball team rallies to keep season alive
RIVERTON, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team showed its resolve Tuesday night, rallying for a 18-25, 25-12, 27-25 victory over Athens in the Class 2A Riverton Sectional semifinals. The Raiders will face Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin at 6 p.m. Thursday for the sectional title. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey was courtside Tuesday and…
Read More‘It’s through the roof’: Regional title continues to boost Raiders’ confidence state crown is possible
WARSAW, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team has already cleared a hurdle it couldn’t get over last season, but their quest for the ultimate prize is far from over. The Raiders swept Illini West 25-16, 25-11 in Thursday’s Class 2A Warsaw Regional championship. “This is another step in the journey,” Raiders coach Danielle…
Read MorePanthers win regional title ‘for our community, for our team, for our program and for our school’
CAMP POINT, Ill. — That vacancy in the Camp Point Central trophy case has been filled. Finally. Junior defensive specialist Agnes Genenbacher’s thoughts echoed those of her teammates following Central’s 25-14, 25-11 Class 1A regional championship victory over Mendon Unity, a memorable 46-minute match that played out in front of about 550 fans on a…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS volleyball team falls in straight sets to O’Fallon in regional title tilt
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — The Quincy High School volleyball team saw its season end with a 25-20, 25-18 loss to O’Fallon on Thursday night in the championship of the Class 4A Collinsville Regional in Vergil Fletcher Gym. Photographer Tim Vizer was there and put together this photo gallery for Muddy River Sports:
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND wins regional volleyball championship by sweeping Illini West
WARSAW, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team keeps rolling. The top-seeded Raiders advanced to the Class 2A Riverton Sectional by dispatching Illini West 25-16, 25-11 in Thursday’s Warsaw Regional championship match. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey was courtside and put together this photo gallery:
Read MoreMiller, Panthers to face Mustangs with chance to win regional title on home floor
CAMP POINT, Ill. — When pressed, Lauren Miller will somewhat begrudgingly pick a preferred sport. “Basketball is probably my favorite, but I also enjoy volleyball a lot,” she said. “I have a lot of friends on both teams.” And make no mistake, Miller, a 5-foot-10 all-state basketball player for Camp Point Central, is pretty good…
Read MoreMustangs earn third shot at Panthers with mind set on changing outcome of first two matches
CAMP POINT, Ill. — Maybe the third time will be the charm for the Mendon Unity volleyball team. The Mustangs dispatched Liberty 25-20, 24-26, 25-17 in Wednesday night’s Class 1A Camp Point Central Regional semifinals, which sets up an interesting matchup in the championship match. Unity (25-12) will challenge regional host Camp Point Central (24-7)…
Read MorePostseason volleyball scoreboard
QUINCY — Here are the results and schedules for the Illinois High School Association prep volleyball regionals involving area teams: Class 4A Collinsville Regional Tue., Oct. 29 Game 1 — No. 2 O’Fallon d. No. 6 Collinsville, 25-17, 25-9 Game 2 — No. 3 Quincy d. No. 5 Belleville East, 25-22, 25-13 Thu., Oct. 31 Game…
Read MoreBlistering start to regional semifinal is reminder QND volleyball team is on postseason mission
WARSAW, Ill. — Even Quincy Notre Dame volleyball coach Danielle White’s most ambitious projections couldn’t have predicted the start the Raiders got off to on Tuesday. QND scorched Monmouth-Roseville in the first set by scoring 20 of the first 21 points on its way to a 25-6, 25-15 victory in the Class 2A Warsaw Regional…
Read MoreChargers take advantage of good fortune to close out regional semifinal, create matchup with Raiders
WARSAW, Ill. — As AJ Cook’s serve took what seemed like an eternity to creep over the net, the Illini West volleyball team held its collective breath. “I was just praying that it would hit,” Cook said. Cook was tasked with a pivotal serve in the second set of Tuesday’s Class 2A Warsaw Regional semifinal…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND, Illini West advance to Class 2A Warsaw Regional championship match
To purchase digital downloads or prints of Muddy River Sports photos,click here to visit our SmugMug site. WARSAW, Ill. — The seeds held true. The top-seeded Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team raced past seventh-seeded Monmouth-Roseville 25-6, 25-15, while fourth-seeded Illini West outlasted fifth-seeded Knoxville 25-21, 25-21 during Tuesday’s semifinals of the Class 2A Warsaw Regional.…
Read MoreLutheran St. Charles continues to be Hannibal volleyball team’s postseason nemesis
CHESTERFIELD, Mo. — For the second straight season, Lutheran St. Charles got in the Hannibal volleyball team’s way of a district championship. The Cougars beat the Pirates 25-17, 25-22, 25-20 on Monday at Parkway Central High School to capture the Class 4 District 4 title. Lutheran St. Charles also swept Hannibal in last year’s district…
Read MoreTournament title sends QND volleyball team into postseason with truckload of momentum
QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team is heading into the postseason on a roll. The Raiders went 4-0 in the QND Volleyball Bash on Friday and Saturday, highlighted by a 25-20, 16-25, 15-11 victory over Breese Mater Dei, the No. 1 ranked team in Class 2A, on Friday. “It was some of the…
Read MoreRaiders rely on strong start to create momentum in sweeping Blue Devils in crossdown showdown
QUINCY — Quincy Notre Dame volleyball coach Danielle White’s suit was fit for the occasion. So was the Raiders’ performance. The Raiders blitzed Quincy High School in the first set and staved off a late Blue Devils rally in the second set to win 25-16, 25-22 on Monday at the QHS gym. White took Pink…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS, QND square off on volleyball court during Pink Night
To purchase digital downloads or prints of Muddy River Sports photos,click here to visit our SmugMug site. QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team roared to a double-digit lead in the first set and never let up Monday night, beating Quincy High School 25-16, 25-22 at the QHS gym. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane…
Read MoreSweep of Alleman on Senior Night continues to show revitalization of QHS volleyball program
QUINCY — The end is near. Of the regular season, that is. And the Quincy High School volleyball team feels it is in a good place as the stretch run beckons. The Blue Devils dispatched Rock Island Alleman in straight sets on Thursday night, raising their overall record to 22-10 and Western Big 6 Conference…
Read MoreRejuvenated Hannibal volleyball squad whips past Illini West to kickstart another busy week
HANNIBAL, Mo. — Saturday was exhausting. Monday was relieving. After the Hannibal volleyball team played five matches in a nine-hour span at Saturday’s Quincy High School Invitational, a three-set victory in a match that took a little more than an hour was just what the doctor ordered 48 hours later. The Pirates made quick work…
Read MoreBombers finish second, Pirates beat Blue Devils in cross-river rematch at QHS Invitational
QUINCY — After more than 10 hours of volleyball, it’s only fitting that the final match of Saturday’s Quincy High School Invitational provided another three-set thriller. Macomb outlasted Freeburg 25-13, 21-25, 15-9 to earn second place in the tournament. The Bombers fell behind 5-3 in the third set after a long, grueling rally that lasted…
Read MoreReady to rumble: QND takes care of business ahead of showdown with undefeated Macomb
QUINCY — Danielle White and the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team know what lies ahead. That’s why the Raiders coach was as impressed as she was with her team’s 25-19, 25-13 West Central Conference win over Southeastern on Tuesday at The Pit. This win came 24 hours before a clash with undefeated Macomb, a rematch…
Read MoreStortzum, Bombers serve up backbreaking run to start second set in sweep of Suns
MACOMB, Ill. — Macomb volleyball coach Briana Rexroat didn’t know why, but she had a vision leading up to the Bombers’ heavyweight clash with Southeastern on Wednesday. “For some reason, all day I was envisioning 25-12,” Rexroat said. “I just kept seeing those two numbers.” Nostradamus would have been proud. Rexroat’s vision came true in…
Read MoreEaton’s instincts lead to tide-turning moment as Raiders sweep Panthers in WCC match
QUINCY — Annie Eaton’s volleyball acumen continues to amaze first-year Quincy Notre Dame coach Danielle White. For a handful of points during Monday’s West Central Conference match against Camp Point Central, Eaton, normally a setter, found herself at outside hitter in a rotation White likes to implement from time to time. “I remember this summer…
Read MoreBombers clean up in second set, roll to 16th straight victory by beating Chargers
CARTHAGE, Ill. — Even though the Macomb volleyball team won the first set of its Prairieland Conference match Tuesday against Illini West, Bombers coach Briana Rexroat knew they could play a cleaner second set. The Bombers committed 11 combined service and hitting errors in the first set, and Rexroat gave her team a benchmark to…
Read MoreSet up for success: Fully adjusted to position change, Rexroat guides Bombers to undefeated start
MACOMB, Ill. — The doubt Quinn Rexroat once had has transformed into confidence. Rexroat had mixed feelings about moving from libero, a position she had played for the first six years of her volleyball career, to setter as a freshman at Macomb High School. “I just liked controlling the defense and I didn’t really like…
Read MoreNothing is going to get Raiders down as fun-loving attitude carries them to sweep of Indians
PAYSON, Ill. — Quincy Notre Dame volleyball coach Danielle White knows the days are ticking away until the postseason begins. “Forty days is not a lot, so we have to start really performing how we are going to want to be performing come that 40-day mark,” White said. That was White’s message to her team…
Read MoreScoreboard for Monday, Sept. 16
MACOMB, Ill. — The Macomb boys and girls golf teams each took home Prairieland Conference crowns Monday afternoon at Macomb Country Club. The Bombers boys squad finished with a combined 316, 17 shots clear of Illini West in second. Brady Scalf carded a 76, one stroke ahead of Illini West’s Nick Bruns, to win the…
Read MoreThree-set victory over Sterling in WB6 play continues to show QHS volleyball team’s tenacity
QUINCY — Fearless. If Quincy High School volleyball coach Kate Brown had to pick one adjective to describe the way her team is playing right now, this is the one she would choose. “They’ve found that fight and the fuel to the fire,” Brown said. The Blue Devils scratched and clawed their way to a…
Read MoreHannibal volleyball squad wins third consecutive match ahead of beginning NCMC play
HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Hannibal volleyball team gave Wentzville Holt all it could handle in sweeping the Indians 25-14, 25-16, 25-14 at Korf Gym on Wednesday night. The Pirates’ Malia Stolte notched a triple-double with 10 kills, 14 assists and 10 digs. Abbie Martin had 13 digs, five aces and four kills. Aly Falconer had…
Read MoreScoreboard for Sept. 11: QND golfers continue strong season, C-SC women win again
QND girls win quadrangluar COLCHESTER, Ill. — Quincy Notre Dame freshman Natalie Druffel earned medalist honors as the QND girls golf team won a quadrangular Wednesday at Gold Hills Golf Club. Druffel shot a 38, while Meredith Eversman shot a 40, Nancy Scholz a 41 and Belle Boudreau a 42. The Raiders posted a 161…
Read More‘We all mesh well together’: Archer’s return to volleyball court helps Indians become contender
PAYSON, Ill. — You can take Ella Archer out of volleyball, but you can’t take volleyball out of Ella Archer. The Payson Seymour do-everything senior, who also plays softball and basketball, decided to step away from volleyball during her junior year. “I just needed a break, a little time off to kind of regroup,” Archer…
Read MoreScoreboard for Sept. 9: Victories by QND soccer team, Southeastern volleyball squad highlight night
Fischer’s goal lifts QND to road victory MONMOUTH, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team is starting to build some momentum at the start of a taxing week. The Raiders followed up Saturday’s victory over Lincoln with a 1-0 victory at Monmouth-Roseville on Monday night. Rylan Fischer scored off a Channing Trevino assist…
Read More‘This is only the beginning’: Lady Suns Classic title start of something special for Southeastern
AUGUSTA, Ill. — Amanda Stephens knows the Southeastern volleyball team has bigger fish to fry, but that doesn’t diminish the excitement of winning a tournament on their home floor. “This is only the beginning,” Stephens said. Southeastern went 5-0 and didn’t lose a set en route to a Lady Suns Classic title. The Suns swept…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Championship Saturday at Lady Suns Classic ends with Southeastern on top
To purchase digital downloads or prints of Muddy River Sports photo,click here to visit our SmugMug site. AUGUSTA, Ill. — The Southeastern volleyball team capped a perfect week by winning the championship of the Lady Suns Classic. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey spent Saturday courtside and put together this photo gallery:
Read MorePhoto gallery: A night at the Lady Suns Classic
To purchase digital downloads or prints of Muddy River Sports photos,click here to visit our SmugMug site AUGUSTA, Ill. — The Lady Suns Classic rolled into its third night of play Thursday with five prep volleyball matches involving teams from across the area. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey spent the evening at Southeastern High…
Read MoreBlue Devils open WB6 play against Rocks with all-around dominant effort
QUINCY — Make no mistake about it, as impressive as the Quincy High School volleyball team was Thursday night — and the Blue Devils were impressive — the best is probably yet to come. Quincy disposed of Rock Island, 25-5, 25-15 in the Western Big 6 Conference opener, a matchup that was over shortly after…
Read MoreScoreboard for Wednesday, Sept. 4: Youngblood goes 4 for 4, Central wins again at Suns Classic
Youngblood powers Panthers to victory MONROE CITY, Mo. — Audri Youngblood went 4 for 4 with three doubles and a home run as the Monroe City softball team improved to 4-0 with a 16-6 victory over Mark Twain. Youngblood drove in five runs. Kauble and Foltz had two hits apiece for the Panthers. Boling had…
Read MoreScoreboard for Tuesday, Sept. 3: QHS girls tennis team finally plays, Highland with key softball win
Blue Devils finally open season, net first victory CHATHAM, Ill. — The Quincy High School girls tennis team had its first two regular-season events canceled, which meant Tuesday’s dual against Chatham Glenwood turned into the Blue Devils’ season opener and first victory with a 6-3 decision. The Blue Devils’ won three singles matches in tiebreakers,…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND offense continues clicking as win streak hits seven consecutive matches
To purchase digital downloads or prints of Muddy River Sports photos,click here to visit our SmugMug site QUINCY — The more comfortable the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team becomes with its faster-paced attack, the more dangerous the Raiders become. That’s not a good sign for those set to challenge the Raiders the remainder of the…
Read MoreScoreboard for Saturday, August 31: Bombers, Chargers win titles, Wildcats improve to 3-0
Bombers sweep way to championship MACOMB, Ill. — The Macomb volleyball team rolled to the championship of its own tournament, capturing five consecutive matches in straight sets. The Bombers went 3-0 in pool play, beating Monmouth United 26-24, 25-14, Geneseo 25-16, 25-19 and Kewanee Wethersfield 25-11, 25-21. In the semifinals, Macomb beat Bartonville Limestone 25-23,…
Read MoreRaiders exact revenge for classmates, beat Blue Devils in Early Bird Tournament title match
QUINCY — Less than 24 hours after the Quincy High School football team routed Quincy Notre Dame by four touchdowns, senior setter Annie Eaton and the QND volleyball team wanted to make amends. “Our football team didn’t have the greatest outcome, so we wanted to come out and show that volleyball’s got it,” Eaton said.…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS, QND volleyball teams reach title match of Early Bird Tournament
To purchase digital downloads or prints of Muddy River Sports photos,click here to visit our SmugMug site. QUINCY — It turned into a weekend of crosstown showdowns. One day after the Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame football teams squared off at Advance Physical Therapy Field, the volleyball teams navigated their way through pool…
Read MorePanthers showcase their resolve by regaining momentum in third set to beat Chargers
CARTHAGE, Ill. — Volleyball is often a game of momentum, but in Claire Huston’s eyes, the pivotal moment in Tuesday’s match between Camp Point Central and Illini West didn’t happen in the flow of play. After the Panthers cruised to a 25-18 first set victory, the Chargers punched back with a commanding 25-12 effort in…
Read More‘OK, this is where we’re at right now’: Chargers’ Johnson relishes first game as head coach
CARTHAGE, Ill. — The moment hit Sawyer Johnson as soon as she stepped into the gymnasium at Illini West High School on Tuesday. She was about to coach her first-ever high school volleyball game. “It was crazy,” Johnson said. “Stepping into that varsity game, seeing everybody and seeing the girls, it was like ‘OK, this…
Read More‘You have to have that confidence’: Raiders bring swagger, experience to volleyball court
QUINCY — Danielle White feels like she is right where she belongs, but sometimes it doesn’t seem real. “I catch myself like, ‘Is this really happening?’” White said. The former Carthage Middle School volleyball coach took the reins of the Quincy Notre Dame program in March, and from the first day she stepped foot on…
Read MoreMind over matter: Blue Devils looking to bring right mental focus to pursuit of postseason success
QUINCY — From her time playing college volleyball, Kate Brown understands the mental battles student-athletes go through. “I was terrible with mental toughness,” Brown said. “I would get so mad at myself. It wasn’t necessarily at my team, it was at me for not doing the things I know how to do.” That personal experience…
Read MoreSister, sister: With knee fully healthy, senior Amanda Stephens joins younger sibling to lead Suns
AUGUSTA, Ill. — Amanda Stephens’ troublesome knee isn’t giving her trouble any longer. A senior setter and hitter on the Southeastern volleyball team, who has committed to Indiana University-Indianapolis, missed the final 12 matches of her junior season and watched the Suns fall in the Class 1A sectional semifinals all because the pain in her…
Read MorePrep volleyball primer: New coach leads deep, talented Illini West squad in chase of more hardware
CARTHAGE, Ill. — Four months ago, Sawyer Johnson was finishing up her animal science degree at Iowa State University. Now, she is the head coach of an Illini West volleyball team that won a regional championship and set a school record with 35 victories in 2023. “It’s been a challenging step for sure, but we’re…
Read MoreChargers take title of Lady Suns Classic behind MVP effort of Bryan
AUGUSTA, Ill. — The championship bracket of the Lady Suns Classic showed competitive balance, which is why it took a tiebreaker to determine the champion. The Illini West, Unity and Southeastern volleyball teams each completed the final day of play with a 1-1 record, but the Chargers won their first four matches of the tournament…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Action gets underway as Hannibal teams prepare for fall seasons
HANNIBAL, Mo. — A new year has begun. Award-winning freelance photographer Mathew Kirby spent Monday criss-crossing the Hannibal High School campus and venturing out to the Veterans Elementary sports complex as Hannibal teams opened fall practice. He even made it to Norwoods Golf Course for the girls golf team’s practice. Kirby put together this photo…
Read MoreAll Four one, one Four all: Rebranded volleyball club puts roots down right here at home
QUINCY — The challenges of playing, practicing, studying and sleeping on the road in order to play club volleyball are things Gabbie Wiley Weiman and Josie Stanford endured in their pursuit of high level competition and college scholarships. They don’t want the next generation to find it so arduous. “We had to go to St.…
Read More‘We couldn’t execute’: Struggle to sustain momentum in third set spoils Raiders’ rally in super-sectional loss
PRINCETON, Ill. — The vibes created by a crisp, energetic and efficient practice Thursday afternoon failed to linger as long as anyone associated with the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball program wanted or expected. “I guess we let it all out yesterday and couldn’t save it for today,” senior middle hitter Abbey Schreacke said. At least…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND vs. Genoa-Kingston in Class 2A Princeton Super-Sectional
PRINCETON, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team rallied after losing the first set of Friday night’s Class 2A Princeton Super-Sectional to Genoa-Kingston, but the Raiders couldn’t sustain the momentum in the third set of a 25-19, 22-25, 25-17 loss. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman captured the action from start to finish. Check…
Read MoreSuns unable to stem changing tide late in second set, fall to Comets in Class 1A super-sectional
LANARK, Ill. — After falling into a deep hole to start Friday night’s Class 1A Eastland Super-Sectional, the Southeastern volleyball team looked like it had recovered and regained control of the match. But the Suns couldn’t fend off a Sterling Newman Central Catholic rally in the second set, and the Class 1A runners-up from a…
Read MoreHave a little Faith: Kientzle’s run of service points, huge plays at net catapult Raiders to victory over Bombers in electric sectional title match
FARMINGTON, Ill. — Five points. No more. Certainly no less. Forced to a decisive third set in Wednesday night’s Class 2A Farmington Sectional championship after Macomb staved off four match points, Quincy Notre Dame volleyball coach Courtney Kvitle convinced the Raiders to concentrate on winning five points at a time. “We knew we had to…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND beats Macomb in three sets to win Class 2A sectional championship
FARMINGTON, Ill. — Certain moments cannot be forgotten. Try October 5 for example. With the Quincy Notre Dame cheering section split between two major events — the boys soccer team played at Quincy High School, while the volleyball team played host to Macomb — the Bombers brought a sizable, boisterous crowd to The Pit. A…
Read MoreSuns continue to rise to occasion, fight back in third set to win sectional championship
BRIMFIELD, Ill. — The Southeastern volleyball team’s cardiac kids made a comeback. More than one comeback, to be precise. Down 10 points in the decisive third set Wednesday night, the Suns staged an epic rally to defeat Hartsburg-Emden 25-11, 21-25, 28-26 in the Class 1A Brimfield Sectional final. To Southeastern coach Tim Kerr, his team’s…
Read MoreCrusaders get bounce back, knock Mustangs out in Class 1A sectional championship match
WHITE HALL, Ill. — The Unity volleyball team just couldn’t put it together on Wednesday night. Unforced error after unforced error piled up for the Mustangs in their Class 1A sectional championship match against Springfield Lutheran. The Mustangs made 10 unforced errors in the first set and followed that with four service errors in the…
Read MoreRaiders let strong serving runs carry them into sectional title game rematch with Bombers
FARMINGTON, Ill. — The trick was to treat the Orion volleyball team to a false sense of hope. Giving up seven of the first 11 points in Monday’s first semifinal match of the Class 2A Farmington Sectional seemed to do that. It didn’t take long, though, for Quincy Notre Dame to dash that hope. A…
Read MoreDefensive-minded Bombers earn spot in highly anticipated sectional championship
FARMINGTON, Ill. — Taking the court under the watchful eyes of a rival and future foe could have been slightly unnerving. Facing an opponent looking for retribution could have, too. The Macomb volleyball team ignored it all and delivered a prime in-the-moment effort Monday night, dispatching Sherrard 25-15, 25-14 in the semifinals of the Class…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Class 2A volleyball sectional featuring Quincy Notre Dame and Macomb
FARMINGTON, Ill. — The sectional championship showdown prep volleyball fans have anticipated for the past month is about to happen. Quincy Notre Dame and Macomb sidestepped their sectional semifinal opponents Monday night and will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday for the title of the Class 2A Farmington Sectional. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman took…
Read MoreMustangs’ stellar play at net carries them into sectional championship match
WHITE HALL, Ill. — The senior members of the Unity volleyball team have been to the sectional three times during their prep careers. The first two times, the Mustangs were shown the door in the semifinals. Ashlynn Arnsman, one of four Unity seniors, is intent on making this final ride a long one. “It was…
Read MoreLoud and clear: Raiders feed off crowd’s energy to dispatch Chargers and win regional championship
QUINCY — The bouncy, boisterous, energetic way the Illini West volleyball team plays can be distracting or intimidating. Quincy Notre Dame combatted that with plenty of noise of its own. Buoyed by a sizable, vocal crowd, the Raiders maintained an even-keel approach throughout Thursday night’s Class 2A QND Regional championship match at The Pit to…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND volleyball team beats Illini West in Class 2A regional championship
QUINCY — For the seventh time in the last eight seasons, the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team can call itself a regional champion. This time, the Raiders gave their seniors a lasting memory in their final game at The Pit. QND beat Illini West 25-13, 25-17 to advance to the Farmington Sectional, where the Raiders…
Read MoreBlue Devils fight to bitter end, fall to Ironmen in Class 4A regional volleyball championship
QUINCY — Quincy High School senior libero Carley Owsley wasn’t about to go down without a fight. “I was prepared for them to be all over the place and to make me move,” Owsley said Thursday night. “I wanted every ball.” And Owsley was able to dig a lot of them as the sixth-seeded Blue…
Read MoreMustangs finish with flourish to sweep Hornets and advance to Class 1A sectional
MENDON, Ill. — Maybe, just maybe, the Unity volleyball team needed a wake-up call. The Mustangs, who won the first set against Brown County with relative ease Thursday night, eventually needed a fast-and-furious finish in round two to deliver a knockout punch. “I think we got a little ahead of ourselves after that first game,”…
Read MoreSuns serve up another regional championship, overwhelm Red Storm to reach sectionals
BIGGSVILLE, Ill. — Tim Kerr willingly accepted the blame. Ahead of Thursday night’s Class 1A Biggsville West Central Regional championship match, the Southeastern volleyball coach searched through some stats and realized senior Abbey McMillen had missed only eight serves all season and was serving at a 98-percent clip. He never should have looked it up…
Read MoreBombers hope to continue trend taking them toward sectional volleyball championship
MONMOUTH, Ill. — Each season, the Macomb volleyball team has inched closer to being a sectional champion. Monday, the Bombers hope the trend continues. Macomb will carry its 32-3 record to the Class 2A Farmington Sectional, where it will face Sherrard in the semifinals following Thursday’s 25-12, 25-19 victory over Monmouth-Roseville in the Class 2A…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Unity, Brown County advance to regional volleyball championship
MENDON, Ill. — The Unity volleyball team launched its pursuit of a Class 1A state tournament berth with a flurry. Brown County did the same. Now the two must go head-to-head to see who survives. The Mustangs and Hornets won Class 1A Unity Regional semifinals Wednesday night in straight sets, propelling them to the regional…
Read MoreEaton guides power-hitting QND to quick victory over Pittsfield in regional semifinals
QUINCY — Annie Eaton’s smile is infectious, but don’t let that nice-girl persona fool you. She’s the quiet assassin of the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team. And she relishes that role. “I like to control things out there,” Eaton said. “I like to run the offense.” The Raiders’ floor general was at her directorial best…
Read MoreYouthful, 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…
Read MoreThe Rundown: Macomb, Southeastern, Hannibal win important volleyball matches
Prep volleyball is in the final week of the regular season, while college and prep soccer teams are heading toward the postseason. Here’s the rundown of Tuesday’s action: • The Macomb volleyball team showcased the ability to rally in an 18-25, 25-18, 25-21 victory at Unity. Kennedy Adair and Kathryn Lukkarinen had 10 kills apiece…
Read MoreQND volleyball seniors make sure to put outcome of match first on night they are feted
QUINCY — Everything about Senior Night is designed to bring out emotion. The swelling pride of parents. The camaraderie of classmates. The realization the end is near. It tends to make the game — no matter the sport — a secondary component to everything else. Wednesday night at The Pit, the six seniors on the…
Read MoreThe Rundown: Cann scores hat trick, Harshberger comes up clutch, Pirates outlast Blue Devils
A busy Monday kickstarted a week that features postseason play. Here’s a look at what transpired around the area: • Leo Cann recorded his first hat trick of the season as the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer used a strong second half to dispatch pesky Macomb 4-1 on the road. Tanner Anderson scored QND’s first…
Read MoreBlockbusters: Improved play at net makes Raiders tougher defensively in sweep of Chargers
QUINCY — Ali Entrup’s reaction spoke volumes. Her play at the net resonated even louder. During a tug-o-war portion of the first set Thursday night against Illini West at The Pit, the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team’s senior right side hitter stuffed a Chargers attack, giving the Raiders the point, the serve and the momentum.…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND and Illini West square off in volleyball at The Pit
QUINCY — Here is a look at the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team’s 25-15, 25-18 victory over Illini West on Thursday night at The Pit through the camera lens of Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman:
Read MoreThe Rundown: Hannibal soccer coach hits career milestone, QND settles for draw, Ritterbusch with four hits for Highland
Plenty of action across the board Thursday. Here is a look at some of the things that happened: • Hannibal boys soccer coach Eric Hill reached a milestone with the Pirates’ 3-0 North Central Missouri Conference victory at Fulton. It was his 300th career victory. Drew Porter, Colton Dryden and DaeShon Glasgow each scored for…
Read MoreQND volleyball team uses quality finishing touches to sweep Hannibal
HANNIBAL, Mo. — Playing a best-of-three or best-of-five series doesn’t seem to matter to the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team. The Raiders are dominant either way. QND rolled into Korf Gym on Tuesday night and swept Hannibal 25-17, 25-19, 25-12. Illinois teams play best-of-three series, while Missouri schools play best-of-five. Since the Raiders (18-1) traveled…
Read MoreQND volleyball team rebounds after semifinal setback, sweeps Limestone in third-place match
LINCOLN, Ill. — The mark of a championship-caliber team is the ability to take a punch and come back swinging. The Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team won’t ever stay down for the count. The Raiders saw a 14-match win streak get snapped in the semifinals of the Lincoln Tournament on Saturday at Roy S. Anderson…
Read MoreDominant run on Hoing’s serve sends QND volleyball team to 10th straight victory
QUINCY — As each Emma Hoing topspin serve befuddled the Rushville-Industry volleyball players, the Quincy Notre Dame advantage grew more insurmountable. “It’s kind of fun,” said Hoing, the junior outside hitter who enjoyed a nine-point run on her serve during the second set of Wednesday night’s match at The Pit. “I just want to keep…
Read MoreServing up victories: QND volleyball team’s attacking style nets pair of dominant efforts
QUINCY — The styles vary from Emma Hoing’s thunderous jump serve to Faith Kientzle’s precision from the back line, but they all have the same intent. Be disruptive. The Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team showcased how vital the serve is to the attack during Saturday’s triangular at The Pit, dominating a pair of matches from…
Read MoreCarothers, 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…
Read MoreRaiders win Early Bird Tournament title, while Blue Devils find footing after two tough losses
QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team refused to be denied, while the Quincy High School squad got over the hump. That made the day-long QHS Early Bird Invitational Tournament a success on all fronts. The Raiders swept five consecutive matches and overcame a five-point deficit in the second set of the title match…
Read MoreAbundance of options thanks to experience and depth should make QND volleyball team dynamic
QUINCY — Depth is a luxury the Quincy Notre Dame girls volleyball players appreciate. It also creates a challenge they embrace. “If you’re working hard, it makes another person work hard,” senior outside hitter Avery Keck said. “You’re pushing each other all the way. You’re competing for a spot, but you’re also supporting your team…
Read MoreQHS’s decision to not play volleyball at Hannibal made ‘trying to be cautious’
QUINCY — The decision to cancel the Quincy High School volleyball team’s match against Hannibal, which was scheduled to be played Thursday night at the Pirates’ Korf Gym, was made with the best of intentions. “We’re trying to be cautious and make sure we get through the year,” QHS athletic director Matt McClelland said. The…
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