Panthers go into regional with 8-match win streak

By Fred Kroner

The eighth-grade St. Joseph volleyball team completed the regular season on an eight-match winning streak. All eight of those wins came in two sets.

After concluding play in the Manteno Tournament with two wins on Saturday (Feb. 11), St. Joseph produced wins over Judah Christian (25-6, 25-6), Paxton (25-17, 25-21), Monticello (25-19, 25-20), Paris Mayo (25-13, 25-16), Mahomet-Seymour (25,14, 25-12) and Georgetown Mary Miller (25-7, 25-15).

The eighth-graders have an overall record of 19-4 entering regional tournament play. The top-seeded Panthers will take the court at home on Tuesday (March 7) against either fourth-seeded Bismarck-Henning or fifth-seeded Georgetown Mary Miller.

 “I’m very proud of how hard they have worked this season,” Panthers coach Abby McDonald said. “They were rewarded this week with very consistent and balanced offensive and defensive performances against some tough opponents.”

The St. Joseph seventh-graders carried a 15-4 record into the postseason, winning their regular-season finale at Georgetown Mary Miller on Thursday (Feb. 23), 25-22, 25-21, following losses away from home to Mahomet-Seymour (5-22, 26-28, 25-16) on Tuesday (Feb. 21) and to Paris Mayo (16-25, 25-22, 25-17) on Monday (Feb. 20).

Against Georgetown, Lyla Patton recorded 10 service points, six of which were on aces.

Three of the team’s four losses this season have been in three-set matches.

The Panthers are the No. 1 seed for an IESA Class 3A regional which they are hosting.