Girls Volleyball
2005 7A State Tournament At Wenona Fieldcrest East Middle School 

[MARCH 19, 2005]  Two Logan County teams continued in state championship play following wins in first round this week.  In quarter finals Mount Pulaski girls won over Oakland Lake Crest, 16-14, 15-11 and Elkhart won over Cissa Park 15-7, 15-8.

Semifinals
Their wins pitted the two teams against one another for semi finals. In semifinals the Mount Pulaski girls won 15-2,15-6 against Elkhart.
Mt. Pulaski dominated the first game as they came out very sharp. Ashley Southerlan had 3 aces and 7 points to give the Honeybears an early lead. After the teams traded side-outs, Kyley Wyss, frest from dominating the net, served Mt. Pulaski to a 14-0 lead. Emma Thompson's 2 kills gave Elkhart its only points. Then Mt. Pulaski closed out game 1, 15-2. Wyss led the attach with 4 kills for the Honeybears.

Elkhart had trouble early solving Mt. Pulaski's defense, and despite showing great hustle, fell to Mt. Pulaski 15-6. The Redbirds of Elkhart received kills from Emma Anderson, Morgan Litterly, Meghan Moore, and Ellen Olson. Kyley Wyss served the last 6 points for Mt. Pulaski, as the Honeybears advanced to the Championship match against Peoria Limestone Walters. The Redbirds of Elkhart moved on to the Consolation match against Metamora St. Mary's. Wyss combined with Ashley Southerlan for the Honeybear offense.

Consolation match
Metamora St. Mary's vs. Elkhart
Elkhart claimed third in state with their three match win 6-15, 15-11, 15-11 over Metamora.

Metamora jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead behind some solid defense and the play of Natalie Marchal at the net. Elkhart came back to tie game 1 at 5-5 thanks to tough serving by Moran Litterly. Jordynn Peters aced a serve to tie the game at 6-6, but that would be the last point the Redbirds would score as St. Mary's defense, coupled with Lyndsay Hawk's 7 service points and Ashley Voudrie's 4 kills at the net, gave game 1 to St. Mary's.

Elkhart grabbed a quick 5-1 lead behind Ellen Olson's serving. The Redbird lead expanded to 9-2 before Natalie Marchal went to work at the net. A Marchal kill gave St. Mary's a side-out. She proceeded to bury 3 more balls for a 5-9 deficit, as Lyndsay Hawk registered 6 service points in a row. The match was tied at 10-10 when Megan Moore served 2 more Elkhart points. At 12-11, Elkharts' Emma Anderson closed out game 2 with the final 3 points. A very spirited game as Elkhart's all around play overcame 6 kills by Marchal.

In a hotly contested third game, neither team could grab more than a two point lead as both teams showed relentless offense, great diggs, and consistent hustle. Three consecutive service points by Moran Litterly gave Elkhart a slim 12-10 advantage. St. Mary's responded with a point before Lindsey Durchholz pushed the lead to 14-11. After trading side-outs, Meghan Moore served an ace for point 15.

Congratulations to both teams on an incredible match and season.

State championship
Peoria Limestone Walters vs. Mt. Pulaski
Mount Pulaski took second in state when Peoria won the first two matches 15-10, 15-13.
Three ace serves gave Peoria Limestone Walters a 3-0 lead. Mt. Pulaski came back but had trouble getting any kills against the Rockets relentless pursuit on defense. Aggressive attacking by Skylar Griggs and Amy Thomason gave Peoria Limestone Walters the 15-10 victory.

Tough serving, strong defense, and teamwork all contributed to Peoria Limestone Walters victorious match. Smart setting by Kylie Beckman to Skylar Griggs' aggressive eight match kills helped the Rockets beat powerhouse Mt. Pulaski. Mt. Pulaski's Kyley Wyss had 5 kills in game two, but it was not enough against the Rockets great hustle on defense.

Congratulations to both teams on a fantastic match and season.

[LDN/IESA]

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