Better late than ever

Lady Railers advance to regional finals

By Rick L. Hobler

[October 31, 2008]  With the "second season" comes that great opportunity known as the "second chance."

For some the second chance is short-lived. For everyone except the state champion, this second chance ends with a loss. Thursday night at the IHSA volleyball regional hosted by Lincoln High School, those second chances began for four teams. And, for two volleyball teams they also came to an end. Lincoln was not one of them.

Lincoln's second chance continues on to Saturday night.

Lincoln, the No. 1 seed, took on fourth-seeded Decatur Eisenhower in the opening semifinal match of the evening at Roy S. Anderson Gymnasium. Everyone expected the Railers (16-17-1) to dominate the six-win Panthers, and the expectations played themselves out as predicted. Lincoln won the match in two games by scores of 25-6 and 25-17. Lincoln dominated the first game with a combination of consistent serving and dominating net play. Lincoln led by scores of 17-1 and 18-4 before putting the game to rest. In game two Lincoln allowed Eisenhower to dictate the tempo throughout. The score reflected the problem as the Panthers kept the score close. At one point Lincoln allowed Decatur to be as close as 13-11. Lincoln mistakes for the most part allowed the Panthers to garner six additional points before the Railers finally put the game and the match away.

Hilary Hobler led the Railers' offensive attack at the net with 11 kills, while Emily Sheley rejected Decatur's attempts to attack by chalking up six blocks for the night. At the service line, Molly Goodrich fired off 13 service points, with Emma Anderson and Samantha Lowman adding nine and seven more serves, respectively. Goodrich, while in setter mode, also contributed 20 assists to the offensive attack. Lowman handled much of the defensive work, digging eight of Decatur's attacks off the floor in the Railer backcourt.

In the second match of the evening, the No. 2-seeded Mount Zion team took on the third seed from Decatur MacArthur. In this semifinal, though, the tables were turned and the lower seed prevailed. Decatur easily won game one and then rallied back from a 1-9 deficit to take the match from the Braves. MacArthur's height advantage and athleticism allowed the Generals to dominate the net and dig out some crucial points for the win. The Generals prevailed 25-23 and 25-19.

Lincoln and MacArthur will now face off for the regional championship on Saturday night at 7 back at LCHS. The winner will move on to face the winner of the Springfield Regional on Tuesday night at Mount Zion High School. Sacred Heart-Griffin is expected to win the Springfield Regional, but the ladies from Springfield High School may spoil the hopes of the surging SHG squad. The other half of this sectional complex should find Champaign Centennial and Chatham Glenwood prevailing in their regional finals. If the seeds hold, then Centennial and Chatham will match up in the other sectional semifinal on Tuesday at Mount Zion.

It is one-and-done time for everyone. The Railers need to play better than ever to continue. No one gets two second chances this year.

GO, RAILERS!

[By RICK L. HOBLER]

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