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As anticipated, neither Lincoln nor Normal University High had any
trouble putting away their first-round opponents, and everyone went
home early enough to see the Chicago White Sox become world
champions of baseball. The Lady Railers defeated Prairie Central
(1-28) by a match score of 25-10, 25-11. The Pioneers of U-High had
an even easier time with Decatur Eisenhower, winning 25-4, 25-9.
Neither match was a contest. In other first-round IHSA Class AA
regional action in Lincoln's supersectional bracket, most other
matches went pretty much according to form. There was one big
exception on my list. My personal choice to be the sleeper team must
have actually been asleep, as Bradley Bourbonnais fell to a scrappy
Decatur MacArthur team in the Rantoul Regional by scores of 25-21,
18-25 and 25-18. MacArthur advances to play Normal Community High
School on Saturday. The winner there will play the winner of the
Mahomet-Seymour versus Champaign Centennial match.
In playoff brackets next to Lincoln's, Bloomington High School
won easily over Streator, but Normal West had to play three games to
overcome Pontiac. Bloomington will face Normal West on Saturday. The
winner of that match will play the winner of the Lincoln versus
U-High match next week in the sectional semifinal at Normal West
High School.
Lincoln's match was mostly a serving display put on by Melissa
Ramlow and Ashley Bonaparte, with additional help from Samantha
Lowman. Ramlow had 13 service points and four aces. Bonaparte ended
up with 13 points and three aces. Lowman totaled up six service
points, all in game two.
In game one, Ramlow stepped up to serve with the Railers down
2-4. When she rotated over, Lincoln was ahead 9-5. Two nice serves
by Natalie Boward brought the score to 11-7. Then Ashley Bonaparte
took the ball and control of the game at 13-8 in favor of Lincoln.
Before Bonaparte gave the ball back to Prairie Central the score was
24-9 in favor of Lincoln. A Jamie McFadden kill ended game one with
the score set at 25-10.
Jamie McFadden finishes.
[to top of second column in this article]
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 The great serving continued in game two. Samantha Lowman got the
Railers rolling, and Melissa Ramlow took care of the middle and the
end of the game. Lowman ran off six successive points early for the
Railers to put the score at 8-2. Ramlow served her first time to get
the Railers to 13-3 and returned for a closing encore, including two
aces, to end the match at 25-11.
On the Railer front line, Erin Frick dominated, with a lot of
help, especially from Jamie McFadden. Frick had a match-high 13
kills, and McFadden followed with seven kills. As opportunity arose,
Natalie Boward, Ashley Meyrick and Kate Schonauer also controlled
the net. Ashley Bonaparte was credited, 17 times, with getting the
volleyball set in the right place to allow those front-row kills.
Erin Frick kills another!
Lincoln (26-10) moves on to play in the regional final against
U-High (24-10-1) Saturday evening at 7 in the LCHS gymnasium.
Saturday's match will be a different story from last night.
Saturday's match against U-High will call for the Railers to step it
up. There is no more "easy" from this point on, no one the Railers
can look past or take for granted. U-High was led last night by its
best hitter, Kyndell Highland, with seven kills, and by an excellent
setter, Regina Feagin, with 15 assists. U-High also received the
benefit of some nice serving, 18 points, from senior Kristin Lyons.
If you are a fan of volleyball and especially Lady Railer
volleyball, you won't want to miss a game from this point forward.
It's time to start hearing some noise from the Railer fans. It's "no
excuse" time for the Lady Railer players.
GO, RAILERS!!
[Rick
Hobler]
Respond to the writer at
rhobler@lccs.edu.
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Regional final
Saturday, 7 p.m.
LCHS gymnasium
Lincoln vs.
U-High |
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