By Fred Kroner
St. Joseph successfully handled the pressure of three-set matches against higher-ranked opponents in both the semifinals and the finals and captured an eighth-grade IESA Class 3A volleyball regional championship on Monday (March 15).
The third-seeded Panthers annexed the crown by edging top-seeded Westville for the championship in a match played at Westville. St. Joseph prevailed, 25-18, 20-25, 25-15.
To reach the finals, St. Joseph ousted second-seeded Hoopeston Area, 25-20, 19-25, 25-20 on Saturday (March 13).
The Panthers started postseason play with a quarterfinal-round conquest of Oakwood, 25-19, 25-8, on Friday (March 12).
St. Joseph will conclude its season in the sectional finals on Thursday (March 18) against Watseka, which also secured a regional championship with a three-set victory.
