JWCC Prairie State Profile: Suns’ Ramsey ready to make another volleyball season shine bright

Southeastern's Summer Ramsey celebrates a point during last year's Class 1A state championship match against Champaign St. Thomas More at Redbird Arena in Normal, Ill. | Photo courtesy Clark Brooks, PhotoNews Media

AUGUSTA, Ill. — An opportunity to watch an NCAA Division I women’s volleyball program play an exhibition match presented itself to the Southeastern volleyball players and heightened the Suns’ anticipation for their own season opener. “It was like I had an adrenalin rush,” said Summer Ramsey, a 5-foot-6 outside hitter. “I don’t even know why.…

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Adam: Through the tears, Kerr appreciates every minute during state tournament run

Southeastern head coach Tim Kerr hugs his daughter, Ani, after the Suns' loss in the Class 1A title match against St. Thomas More on Saturday at Redbird Arena. | PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

NORMAL, Ill. — When asked during Saturday’s post-match press conference how many times Southeastern volleyball coach Tim Kerr had cried, senior Taylor Wagner said, “Too many to count.” “Counting here? Probably 10 at least,” said Tim’s daughter, Ani. Tim is known for getting choked up about just about anything, ranging from college signings, athletic banquets…

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After stealing first set from St. Thomas More, Suns’ season sets with second-place finish

Suns coach Tim Kerr, right, and the Southeastern volleyball team celebrate with their state trophy after Saturday morning's match against St. Thomas More in the Class 1A championship game at the IHSA state volleyball tournament. The Suns fell to St. Thomas More 22-25, 25-18, 25-17. | PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

NORMAL, Ill. — The incomplete team with the imperfect defense nearly pulled off the improbable upset. Tiny Augusta Southeastern, vying to become the school with the smallest enrollment to win the Illinois High School Association Class 1A volleyball state championship, stunned No. 1-ranked Champaign St. Thomas More 25-22 to win the first set Saturday morning…

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‘Now I get to watch my baby play here’: Setter on Southeastern’s 2001 team now cheers for daughter at state tournament

Former Southeastern volleyball player Carrie (Leasman) Shaffer watches her sophomore daughter, Abigail, play during Friday’s semifinal game in the Illinois High School Association Class 1A state volleyball finals. | iPhotoNews photo by Clark Brooks

NORMAL, Ill. — Carrie Shaffer couldn’t help herself. Shaffer, a setter on the last Augusta Southeastern team to reach the state volleyball tournament, sent a note to her daughter, Abigail, on Thursday night to offer thoughts about what to expect in Friday morning’s semifinal match. Well, maybe more than a note. “I sent her a…

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Adam: Southeastern to take mighty swing at upsetting No. 1 St. Thomas More and become smallest 1A champ ever

Southeastern coach Tim Kerr waves to the team's fans after the Suns won their semifinal match against Springfield Lutheran at the Illinois High School Association state volleyball tournament on Friday in Redbird Arena. | iPhotoNews photo by Clark Brooks

NORMAL, Ill. — It’s difficult to believe any team that has won 39 of 41 games could be considered an underdog. The Southeastern volleyball team seems to have embraced this unlikely role for two weeks. The Suns’ last four victories have been against teams ranked in the top 10 of the MaxPreps Class 1A state…

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Volleyball official gets rare opportunity to watch from stands during daughter’s state tournament run at Southeastern

Southeastern's Amanda Stephens (19) celebrates with her teammates after scoring a point during the second set of Friday's Class 1A semifinal match at the Illinois High School Association's volleyball state finals. The Lady Suns defeated Springfield Lutheran to advance to the Class 1A state title match on Saturday morning. | iPhotoNews photo by Clark Brooks

NORMAL, Ill. — Christine Stephens got to watch most of her daughter’s volleyball matches this fall, but not in the way most moms do. Arguably the best high school volleyball official in West-Central Illinois, Stephens is in gymnasiums many nights during the fall. When her freshman daughter, Amanda, takes the floor for the Augusta Southeastern…

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Blaze of glory: Stephens, Suns reach first volleyball championship match in school history

Southeastern's Summer Ramsey hugs Taylor Wagner, who raises her fist, as they celebrate their 25-16, 25-23 victory over Springfield Lutheran at the Illinois High School Association Class 1A state volleyball finals in Normal. At right is Abbey McMillen. | iPhotoNews Photo by Clark Brooks

NORMAL, Ill. — Springfield Lutheran volleyball coach Katie McCulley knew what was coming. Her team played Southeastern in the finals of the New Berlin Tournament in September, and she saw first-hand what 5-foot-10 freshman Amanda Stephens could do when the Suns won in two sets. So it didn’t surprise McCulley when Stephens dominated Friday morning’s…

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Suns taking history, community support with them to state volleyball tourney

Members of the Southeastern volleyball team sign a ball before practice Thursday at Redbird Arena in Normal, Ill. Photo courtesy Autumn Schullian

BOWEN, Ill. — The custodians earned their pay Wednesday. Before leaving for Normal to continue preparations for the Class 1A state tournament, the Southeastern volleyball players were treated to a district-wide celebration and sendoff. It started with a morning assembly at the elementary school in Bowen. The students lined the gym to give the Suns…

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No. 5-ranked Southeastern overcomes first set woes, advances to sectional final against No. 4-ranked Hartsburg-Emden

ABINGDON, Ill. — The mantra for most coaches in the postseason is to “play them one game at a time.”  Southeastern coach Tim Kerr kind of thumbed his nose at that thought. After watching his team defeat Princeville 25-27, 25-19, 25-20 on Monday night in the semifinals of the Class 1A Abingdon Sectional, Kerr admitted…

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