Thursday's prep highlights: Regular season volleyball comes to a close

PHOTO GALLERY: Prep Volleyball: STM vs. PBL

St. Thomas More vs. Paxton-Buckley-Loda in a prep volleyball match at St. Thomas More High School in Champaign on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024.

In volleyball

Heart of Illinois Conference Tournament

Fisher 2, Ridgeview 1. The Bunnies (10-23) dispatched the Mustangs (8-24) in a tight matchup, 25-11, 22-25, 15-12. Paige Hott led Fisher with nine kills and nine digs, and Brooklynn Kellems added nine assists. Maddy Graves and Sadie Bruggman each came away with four blocks.

Nontournament

Champaign Central 2, Bradley-Bourbonnais 0. The Maroons (23-12) ended the regular season with a 26-24, 25-17 sweep. Nine kills and six digs from Bridget Cassady paced the team, with Sienna Zapparoli‘s six kills and eight digs right there with her. Maya McCaffrey also had six kills, and Prestyn Roberts, Ava Clark and Erin Armstrong combined for 26 assists.

Georgetown-Ridge Farm 2, Armstrong-Potomac 0. Both sets went down to the wire, but the Buffaloes (16-12) won each by a score of 25-23. Milee Ellis tallied 10 kills in the winning effort, and Hadlee Hayes added six. Rubyrae Fraser Soule had 20 assists, and Addison Spesard had 14 digs. Despite the loss, the Trojans (14-16-1) got solid performances out of Isabell Bullington (five kills), Carly Grant (11 assists) and Ellie Lomax (three aces).

Monticello 2, Chillicothe IVC 0. The Sages (21-13) earned a 25-16, 25-15 sweep over an Illini Prairie Conference opponent to end the regular season. Do-it-all Sierrah Downey had seven assists, six digs, five kills and four blocks. Pearl Glaze blocked seven shot attempts, and Shelby Smith had five kills.

Rantoul 2, Oakwood 1. Lauren Herbert dished out assists nonstop, totaling 33 to go along with 10 digs in a 19-25, 25-21, 25-19 comeback win for the Eagles (11-18) over the Comets (9-17). Airiana Bell also recorded a double-double with 15 kills and 17 digs. Joselyn Espinoza had 21 digs, and Josie Roseman had seven kills and 13 digs.

St. Thomas More 2, Paxton-Buckley-Loda 0. The duo of Addie Kerr and Shannon Monahan shined on their Senior Night for the Sabers (31-4). Kerr recorded 21 assists and three aces, and Monahan had 11 kills in a 25-12, 25-16 win over the Panthers (10-23). Cassidy Monahan added seven kills and three aces.

Salt Fork 2, Schlarman 0. Thanks to eight kills from Maya Smith, 14 assists and seven digs from Ava Ringstrom and eight digs and six aces from Addi Williams, the Storm (15-11) was able to grab a 25-12, 25-10 win over the Hilltoppers (1-20).

Unity 2, Olympia 0. A balanced offensive attack saw Lindy Bates, Shelby Smith and Meagan Bates combine for 17 kills in a 25-15, 25-13 victory for the Rockets (21-13-1). Lauren Shaw put up 14 assists, Meagan Bates had eight digs and Ava Fenter served up three aces.

Watseka 2, Milford 0. After dominating the first set, the Warriors (25-7) cruised in the second to take a 25-8, 25-20 win over the Bearcats (7-23). Christa Holohan set up the Watseka offense nicely with 22 assists. Lauren Tegtmeyer had six kills and four aces. Ella Smith and Megan Martin each tallied five kills. Noelle Schroeder dug out 12 balls, and Smith added another eight.