Nov. 14--Timothy Christian will take home a trophy in its first trip to the girls volleyball state tournament, but it won't be for first place.
The Trojans fell to Bloomington Central Catholic 25-22, 25-21 in a Class 2A semifinal Friday at Redbird Arena in Normal. Bloomington Central (34-5) will face Orion (40-0) in Saturday's final. Timothy Christian (36-5) will play Shelbyville (37-4) for third place.
Timothy Christian had never been to the state tournament and had only one sectional title (2011) before this season. The Trojans boasted a 13-match winning streak going into Friday. Bloomington Central extended its own streak to 25 matches.
Maddie Holt paced the Saints with 20 assists, seven digs and three kills. Erika Moore added six kills and seven digs. Kendra Teune had 12 kills for the Trojans, and Dani VanLaten had 22 assists.
Orion defeated Shelbyville 25-16, 20-25, 25-20 behind 20 kills from Ashton Lee. The Chargers will try to become the first undefeated state champ since Crystal Lake Central (42-0) in 3A in 2007 and the 11th overall.
In Class 1A, Cissna Park and Lanark Eastland will play for the title. Cissna Park defeated Clay City 25-10, 23-25, 25-8 behind nine kills and nine digs from Addison Stoller. Eastland routed Kewanee Wethersfield 25-16, 25-11, with Makenzie Fink's 12 kills leading the way.
Cissna Park will go for its first title; Eastland won Class 1A in 2008 and 2009 under coach Kristy Pierce, who is 940-206-10 in her 34th and final season.
Undefeated state champs (10)
2007 3A: Crystal Lake Central (42-0)
1994 A: Breese Mater Dei (38-0)
1989 A: Mount Pulaski (43-0)
1986 A: Stewardson-Strasburg (33-0)
1982 AA: Mother McAuley (48-0)
1981 AA: Mother McAuley (40-0)
1980 A: Quincy Notre Dame (34-0)
1978 AA: Oak Park (32-0)
1978 A: Quincy Notre Dame (32-0)
1977 AA: Mother McAuley (32-0)
Class 1A
Friday's results
Cissna Park d. Clay City, 25-10, 23-25, 25-8
Lanark Eastland d. Kewanee Wethersfield, 26-16, 25-11
Saturday's schedule
Third place, Clay City (30-3) vs. Wethersfield (32-8), 9 a.m.
Championship, Cissna Park (33-5-1) vs. Eastland (39-1-1), 10:30 a.m.
Class 2A
Friday's results
Orion d. Shelbyville, 25-16, 20-25, 25-20
Bloomington Central Catholic d. Timothy Christian, 25-22, 25-21
Saturday's schedule
Third place, Timothy (36-5) vs. Shelbyville (37-4), 12:25 p.m.
Championship, Orion (40-0) vs. Bloomington C.C. (34-5), 1:55 p.m.
