Tuesday, Nov. 03, 2009

A third volleyball meeting: Freeburg meets Columbia in sectional play

Midgets have two wins over Eagles

Freeburg High's postseason tour through the Mississippi Division of the Cahokia Conference continues today at the Class 2A Columbia Sectional.

The defending Class 2A state champion Midgets (34-2) will face host Columbia (19-12) at 7 p.m. in the semifinals. The first semifinal at 6 p.m. pits Greenville vs. Staunton.

The Midgets have already conquered a pair of conference foes, beating Wesclin 25-18, 25-8 and Carlyle 25-21, 25-14 to win the Carlyle Regional. Freeburg coach Lesa Bolt said the familiarity factor has its advantages -- to a point.

"We know who the strong players are and where they have tendencies to," Bolt said. "Playing them a few times, you know how they play and you know they can bring it at any time."

"We also know they have nothing to lose. Columbia is always a tough team and good rival with Freeburg. They're definitely strong and I know that they have beaten Carlyle, so it's a team you can't lightly."

Playing under first-year coach Nikki Petrekovich, the Eagles are in the sectional for the fifth straight year. They know playing at home is a plus, but it only goes so far against a team like Freeburg.

"Freeburg is the defending state champs, and they very easily could be again this year," Petrekovich said. "We're going to make sure that we make it very difficult for them. The girls are not intimidated by any means, but we're definitely the underdog in this story.

"We have no stress. We have nothing to lose, and that's kind of the mentality we have."

Columbia is 0-2 against the Midgets, losing 25-18, 25-23 on Sept. 22 and 25-14, 25-10 on Oct. 13 in a match where three starters were out because of sickness.

The key for the Eagles will be to somehow slow down the hitting attack of the Midgets, which features five players with 130 or more kills. Chelsi Hummert heads the attack with 233 kills, followed by Colleen Yarber (193 kills), Sam Kassing (170 kills), Kayleigh Cox (142 kills) and Lucy Balch (134 kills).

"They're going to be hard to stop, because they're coming from all directions," Petrekovich said. "Our blocking has improved greatly, so hopefully, we can put up a nice block or at least have that coverage so they're hitting around our blocks.

"Hopefully, our defense will be there. If we have the pass, we're going to put that ball down."

The Eagles have the conference's kill leader in 6-0 senior middle hitter Stephanie Mueller (272 kills). They've also been getting inspired play from 5-9 senior Megan Galle (141 kills) and 5-10 senior right-side hitter Allie Joyner (104 kills).

"As long as we play good volleyball, that's all our girls care about," Petrekovich said. "We know what we're up against."

Class 1A Lebanon Sectional

Valmeyer (19-9) will be taking on a sectional newcomer today when the Pirates take on Patoka (14-11) at 7 p.m. in the semifinals of the Class 1A Lebanon Sectional.

While the Pirates are in the sectional for the third straight year, Patoka has never been this far. The Warriors won the school's first volleyball regional title Saturday with a 26-24, 23-25, 25-21 victory over Woodlawn at the Marissa Regional.

Patoka main hitter is 5-11 junior Paige Myers. Valmeyer , which beat New Athens 25-14, 25-13 to win its own regional Saturday, counters with 5-6 junior Michele Bivins (190 kills) and 5-8 junior Corine Inman (157 kills).

Trico and Bunker Hill (29-6) square off in the first semifinal match at 6 p.m.