Hartsburg-Emden claims the 7th Grade Class 1A State Championship for a third year in a row

[March 12, 2018] 

The Hartem Stags did it again! A three-peat if you will. Just like the Chicago Bulls of the '90s the Stags made it their second three-peat of the decade. The Stags won in 2011, 2012 and 2013 before taking a couple years off and bouncing back to claim the 7th grade title in 2016, 2017 and now 2018.

That's a three-peat! The Stags react to winning the 7th Grade Class 1A State Championship versus Grayville.

When will it end? Chances are not any time soon. With a past track record of eight volleyball championships in the last 12 years with Jennifer Hayes at the helm the future always looks good for Stag volleyball.

We could go back even further but one would have to take shoes and socks off to keep up with the numerous wins. IESA adopted a four-class system in 2007 for both 7th and 8th grade and Hayes' teams have dominated that field on all levels.

Worth mentioning is the Stags have won nine of the last 11 state championships for 8th grade. The current 8th grade team will play Monday night for a state berth. But back to the here and now.

The Stags cruised through the competition on Saturday.

In the semifinals Hartem defeated Peoria Limestone Walters 25-8 and 25-12. Lily Barry led Hartem with 11 kills. Cassie Crabtree had 6 kills.

In the championship match Hartem took out Grayville for the second year in a row. In a match that was over pretty quick in two sets, it was Hartem winning in their typical breathtaking fashion 25-13 and 25-15.

Barry finished with 12 kills and wowed the crowd with every hit. Crabtree had the most important kill of the set ~ the last one to clinch the championship.

Hartem ends their season on top with a perfect 23-0 record. Easy to remember if you are a Bulls fan and can recall the number of their best player.

During the most recent three-peat, Hartem boasts a record of 75 wins and only 2 losses. That beats the Bulls history-making 1995-96 season of 72 wins and 10 losses by a long shot. Okay enough with the Bulls references. This article is all about the STAGS!

Hartem Head Coach Jennifer Hayes, who just kept glancing at her bench and smiling with every point scored late in Saturday's final set, said after the win, "We just played really solid. We've had a very solid tournament. I really never felt like my girls were too up or too down and just played to win. Really they had very few errors. Grayville is a great team. We just came in and got them on their heals and just kind of took over the game. It was a great day and I'm very proud of my girls."

By the reaction of the fans in the gym at Decatur LSA Saturday evening as things wrapped up, all of Hartsburg-Emden is proud of these girls. The fans swarmed the court after the presentation of the medals and the championship plaque and then picture-taking and congratulatory hugs took over.

The orange and black crowd was beaming with pride. Babies were passed around in photos and every generation was represented in the pictures. Small town pride at its best.

Cassie Crabtree jumps for joy as the rest of the team finishes congratulating Grayville.

Coach Jennifer Hayes and Grayville Coaches Tricia Myers and Kim Milligan pose with the hardware after the game Saturday.

When the crowd finally did disperse, Coach Hayes could be spotted off to the side chatting and taking pictures with the Grayville coaches, Tricia Myers and Kim Milligan. Grayville ended the season with a 17-1 record. Not a bad season at all to lose the only game of the year in the championship match - to the Stags nonetheless.

The 2018 7th Grade Class 1A State Champions - the Hartem Stags!

Congratulations, Stags, on the 2018 Class 1A State Championship!!!

Just a ball, a plaque and some medals  THE Championship goods.

Hugs and smiles all the way around from the Hartem players.


The thrill of touching a championship piece of hardware.

Stags stats versus Limestone Walters:

Points:

Merz 10
Barry 7
Beekman 5
Crabtree 5
Montgomery 4
O'Donoghue 3

Kills:

Barry 11
Crabtree 6
Merz 2
O'Donoghue 1
Beekman 1

Assists:

Montgomery 10
Beekman 10

Digs:

Merz 4
Beekman 3
Crabtree 2
Barry 3
Montgomery 2
O'Donoghue 2

Stags stats versus Grayville:

Points:

Montgomery 10
Crabtree 10
Merz 7
O'Donoghue 4
Beekman 1
Barry 1

Kills:

Barry 12
Crabtree 1
O'Donoghue 1

Blocks:

Barry 4

Assists:

Beekman 10
Montgomery 3

Digs:

Merz 2
O'Donoghue 2
Barry 1
Beekman 1

[Teena Lowery]