Panthers begin volleyball season strong
By FRED KRONER
The St. Joseph Panthers seventh-grade volleyball team has produced two three-match winning streaks early in the season.
St. Joseph opened with wins at home over Hoopeston (25-20, 25-17 on Monday, Jan. 8), Next Generation (25-15, 25-22 on Tuesday, Jan. 9) and Tolono Unity (25-16, 25-11 on Wednesday, Jan. 17) before losing at Westville (25-23, 25-21 on Thursday, Jan. 18), Decatur Unity Christian (25-21, 25-21 on Saturday, Jan. 20 at Maroa) and Heyworth (25-23, 25-14 also on Saturday, Jan. 20 at Maroa).
Those matches were followed with victories over Riverton (25-22, 25-23 on Saturday, Jan. 20 at Maroa), at Bismarck-Henning (25-19, 25-20 on Monday, Jan. 24) and Holy Cross (25-3, 25-20 at home on Wednesday, Jan. 26).
Villa Grove dealt the Panthers a 25-20, 25-11 setback at home on Monday, Jan. 29 before St. Joseph regained its winning ways by defeating Prairieview Ogden (25-14, 25-17 at home on Tuesday, Jan. 30) and Cissna Park (20-25, 25-22, 25-17).
Not only did the Panthers overcome a one-set deficit at Cissna Park on Thursday (Feb. 1), they were the first team this season to hand CP a loss.
“We have seen a lot of individual growth in all of our athletes, and growth as a team,” St. Joseph coach Jill Lubinski said. “This group of seventh-graders are finding success when they play together and communicate effectively on the court.”
The Panthers’ seventh-grade roster consists of Charlene Barbee, Teagan Blacker, Tabby Brown, Nora Buckley, Ella Buhs, Sophia Chahine, Charlotte Christians, Kennedi Dean, Maddy Garret, Avery Haley, Madison Huls, Braelyn Ikemire, Mia Miller, Emma O’Herron and Ava Overstreet.
St. Joseph has an 8-4 season record and returns to action on Friday (Feb. 9) at Oakwood.
