Panther volleyball headed to State tournament
By FRED KRONER
St. Joseph’s seventh-grade volleyball team earned a berth in the IESA Class 3A state quarterfinals for the second consecutive year with a three-set triumph on Monday (March 4) at Iroquois West over Watseka.
The Panthers posted a 25-13, 18-25, 25-17 victory for their sixth consecutive victory. Watseka ends the year with a 16-4 record.
Under the direction of third-year coach Jill (Hackler) Lubinski, St. Joseph (18-7) will take on unbeaten Williamsville (20-0) in Friday’s 7 p.m. quarterfinal match at Warrensburg-Latham.
The Panthers’ state roster consists of setters Braelyn Ikemire and Mia Miller, libero Charlotte Christians, defensive specialists Tabby Brown, Nora Buckley and Madison Huls, middle hitters Teagan Blacker, Kennedi Dean, Maddy Garrett and Emma O’Herron, along with outside hitters Charlee Barbee, Ella Buhs, Sophia Chahine, Avery Haley and Ava Overstreet.
All 15 squad members are seventh-graders.
The St. Joseph/Williamsville winner will return to Warrensburg-Latham on Saturday (March 9) for a semifinal showdown at 12:15 p.m. between the winner of a quarterfinal match between Downs Tri-Valley (25-1) and Lisle (11-2).
In the past 24 years, St. Joseph Middle School has sent a seventh-grade volleyball team to state nine times.
The school’s other state teams were in 2023, 2019, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2006, 2002 and 2001.
This year’s group is seeking the school’s fourth state trophy for the seventh-grade program. The other St. Joseph-placing teams in seventh-grade volleyball were 2019 (fourth), 2015 (third) and 2014 (fourth).
