On Saturday, September 7, Illinois Lutheran High School’s volleyball team was at the Manteno Early Bird Tournament. They began the day in pool play against Grant Park and got the win, 26-24; 25-16. They then played Sherrard, the eventual tournament champion, and lost in a hard-fought match, 24-26; 18-25. The last pool play match was against Newark, and the Chargers came up short, 13-25; 7-25. In the last match of the day to determine fifth/sixth places, the Chargers took on Clifton Central. It was a close match throughout, but the Chargers came away with the win (25-18; 21-25; 15-11) and fifth place.
Emma Nagle received All-Tournament honors, while recording 7 aces, 43 assists, 27 digs, and 6 kills on the day. Anna Oestmann had 1 ace, 15 kills and 29 digs, while Mia Jacobucci ended with 2 aces and 30 digs. Kimberly Danielewicz had 1 ace, 11 kills and 4 blocks, Azaylia Sanchez – 2 aces, 6 kills and 37 digs, Madison Permenter – 3 aces, 9 kills and 24 digs, and Erin Kennedy added 5 kills and 3 blocks.
On Tuesday, September 10, ILHS traveled to Grant Park for a River Valley Conference match. The Chargers took a 12-7 lead in the first set and kept it until Grant Park pulled even at 18. Emma Nagle went on a good serving run to regain the 5-point lead, and the Chargers won the first set 25-20. Grant Park took the lead in the second set and were up 9-5, when Anna Oestmann served for 6 straight points to put the Chargers up 11-9. It was back-and-forth throughout the remainder of the set, but Grant Park finished with a 27-25 win. In the deciding, third set, the Chargers took control and came out with a 25-14 win.
On the day, Emma Nagle had 2 aces, 29 assists, 3 kills and 14 digs. Azaylia Sanchez led the offense with 11 kills, plus added 1 ace and 12 digs. Mia Jacobucci had 3 aces and 15 digs, Anna Oestmann – 1 ace, 4 kills and 12 digs, Kimberly Danielewicz – 1 ace and 7 kills, Madison Permenter – 5 kills and 15 digs, and Erin Kennedy – 6 kills.
The Chargers are now 6-7 overall and 2-0 in the RVC.