High School Girls Volleyball
Lady Railers win Class 3A Regional Championship over Champaign Central
Lincoln advances to the Springfield Southeast Sectional Monday night at 6 p.m.


 

[October 27, 2023] 

The Lincoln Lady Railers defeated the Champaign Central Maroons on Thursday night 25-14 and 25-16 to win the Class 3A Regional Championship in Champaign.

Alyssa Company led the Lady Railers with 9 kills.

Kloe Froebe and Rebecca Burge each had 7 kills.

Set one

Lincoln fell behind 2-4 early to the Maroons despite two quick kills from senior Alyssa Company. Lincoln came back to take a 5-4 advantage on a tip and would not relinquish the lead. After a kill by Rebecca Burge from the middle, Lincoln was on top 7-5. Kloe Froebe added a kill to make the score 8-6. Company had the hot hand and after she was able to put down three more kills in the set, Lincoln was up 12-8. A kill by junior Peyton Sasse gave Lincoln a 15-8 lead. Lincoln continued to dominate the Maroons and the score escalated to 22-9. Burge’s final kill of the set put Lincoln up 23-11. With Makia Hassebrock getting the tip to fall on the last play of the game, Lincoln recorded a 25-14 set one victory.

Set two

Once again, Lincoln fell behind 2-4 to the Maroons but they were quick to catch up. After a kill by Sasse and a tip by Hassebrock, the teams were tied 5-5. Burge’s kill gave Lincoln a 6-5 advantage. After Hassebrock broke a 6-6 tie with a tip, Froebe put Lincoln up 8-6 on a kill. Lincoln was in the midst of a 7-0 run that ended after Sasse recorded back-to-back aces to make the score 13-6. Lincoln built leads of 16-7 and 17-10 that made it impossible for the Maroons to overcome. Setter Addy Qualters had a variety of hitters to choose from down the stretch and with Froebe, Company, Sasse and Burge each swinging well, the kills came effortlessly and Lincoln was close to hoisting the championship plaque with the score 24-16. Froebe ended the Maroons season on one more kill and the Lady Railers won set two 25-16.

Lincoln wins back-to-back volleyball regional championships. Last season Lincoln won under the direction of head coach Emma Derry and this season the team won under new head coach Kaylee Lowery.

“We are taking tonight to celebrate our regional win and then tomorrow we shift into preparation mode for Chatham on Monday,” said Lowery. “Addy Qualters did an incredible job of getting our middles involved tonight. They were huge difference makers. We are excited to be closer to home next week and hoping to get a big crowd to come out for Sectionals. Go Railers!”

Lincoln improves to 32-4 on the season.

The Champaign Central Maroons end the season with a 23-14 record.

Lincoln will face Chatham Glenwood in the Springfield Southeast Sectional on Monday night. Game time is 6:00 p.m.

Following the Lincoln/Chatham game, Normal U-High will play Taylorville at 7:00 p.m.

Varsity stats

Company 9 kills 3 digs 1 block
Froebe 7 kills 6 digs
Burge 7 kills 3 digs 1 block
Sasse 6 kills 6 digs 2 blocks
Qualters 28 assists 5 digs
Heitzig 8 digs 2 assists
Hassebrock 2 kills 1 block
Stoltzenburg 4 digs

[Teena Lowery]