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Girls Volleyball: Madi Malone, Newark 'on a mission,' march into state final

Malone's 23 kills lead Norsemen past Athens; Newark to play for second straight title Saturday

Newark, making its third straight state appearance, played like it Friday morning at Redbird Arena. Madi Malone, as usual, was unstoppable with 23 kills. Newark followed her lead, taking care of business in beating Athens 25-20, 25-14 in the first Class 1A state semifinal. Newark (40-2) will play for its second straight state championship at 10:30 a.m. Saturday morning against Illini Bluffs (40-1), a winner over Norris City. "It's definitely comforting knowing we've been here before and it's not our first time, and I have people by my side that if I get nervous they're there to build me up," said Chapman, one of three Newark starters for all three state teams. "We were all freaked out the first time we were here. Now it's not like 'Oh my gosh, we're in this giant gym' it's 'Let's just get a win.'" (Matthew Apgar)

By Joshua Welge

Newark, making its third straight state appearance, played like it Friday morning at Redbird Arena. Madi Malone, as usual, was unstoppable with 23 kills. Newark followed her lead, taking care of business in beating Athens 25-20, 25-14 in the first Class 1A state semifinal. Newark (40-2) will play for its second straight state championship at 10:30 a.m. Saturday morning against Illini Bluffs (40-1), a winner over Norris City. "It's definitely comforting knowing we've been here before and it's not our first time, and I have people by my side that if I get nervous they're there to build me up," said Chapman, one of three Newark starters for all three state teams. "We were all freaked out the first time we were here. Now it's not like 'Oh my gosh, we're in this giant gym' it's 'Let's just get a win.'" (Matthew Apgar)

Newark has been doing plenty of that. The Norsemen have not so much as dropped a set during the postseason. Athens' last lead in the first set was 12-11 and its last lead in the second was 3-2. "This has been the mission all along," Newark coach Tonya Grayson said. "After winning it last year, it was a sweet feeling but we have a lot of returners and a lot of seniors. Their approach this year has just been so businesslike. These guys have their heads on straight. When they're in win mode, watch out because we're going to take care of business." (Matthew Apgar)

Malone sure took care of business. She had 23 kills in just 36 attempts with four errors, with kills at set point and match point. After a close first set, she really got rolling in the second with seven of Newark's first 11 points for an 11-6 lead. "She's their big hitter and they went to her every time," said Athens coach Britani Morrison, whose program was making its first state appearance in 44 years. "When you're on, you're on. She's tough to stop." Doesn't Grayson know it. "They had no answer," Grayson said. (Alex T)

Similar to their supersectional match with Dakota, the Norsemen were in control once they secured the first set. Megan Williams, who had seven kills, gave Newark the lead for good with a smash to make it 14-13 in the first. Chapman's kill made it 19-16, and Malone had kills for three of Newark's last five points. "We always want to get that first set under our belt," Malone said. "We knew we had to get one set down to get closer to the championship. We came out with a lot of fire and energy." (Matthew Apgar)

Newark overcame a tightly-called first set, with five ball handling errors. Newark's Taylor Christian, who had 32 assists for the match, was whistled for two – the second of which gave Athens its last lead at 12-11. "That's going to happen now and again; sometimes refs will call it tighter," Grayson said. "Taylor I thought handled it beautifully. She didn't let it get her rattled, just focused on the next point." Newark only trailed at two points in the second set. Leading 7-6 the Norsemen took control with a 5-0 run, Malone putting down four straight kills. She had a back-row smash, then drove two off blocks. "Sets from Taylor were great," Malone said. "They blocked me a few times so I had to run a few different sets. Mixed it up and Taylor did great." (Matthew Apgar)

Caroline Lendy had nine kills and Adrien Barrett seven for Athens (30-6), which hit just .237 while Newark hit .409. Meggie Scott had nine digs and Chapman three kills for Newark. Two of Newark's seven seniors, there's little doubt how they intend to go out Saturday. "We're on a mission, the whole season. I feel like we're more on a mission this year than we were last year having a ton of girls back," Scott said. "One more to go, and we're here to do it." (Matthew Apgar)

Newark's Taylor Christian hits the ball over to Athens during their IHSA Class 1A state volleyball semifinal game inside the Red Bird Arena on the campus of Illinois State University on Friday, Nov. 15, 2019 Normal. Newark won in straight sets and will advance to the finals on Saturday. (Matthew Apgar)

Newark's Taylor Christian pops the ball up for her Lady Norsemen teammates during their IHSA Class 1A state volleyball semifinal game against Athens inside the Red Bird Arena on the campus of Illinois State University on Friday, Nov. 15, 2019 Normal. Newark won in straight sets and will advance to the finals on Saturday. (Matthew Apgar)

Newark students McKenzie Hamer, left, and Jocelyn Mitchell, both 17, cheer on their team after beating Athens in straight sets during their IHSA Class 1A state volleyball semifinal game inside the Red Bird Arena on the campus of Illinois State University on Friday, Nov. 15, 2019 Normal. Newark won in straight sets and will advance to the finals on Saturday. (Matthew Apgar)