Illinois Valley athletes lead Lions Jrs Starved Rock 16 Red to top 5 finish at Nationals

Players from around the Illinois Valley teamed up on the Lions Jrs Starved Rock 16 Red club team to compete in the prestigious AAU Nationals Volleyball Tournament in June in Orlando, Florida.

Competing against top teams from across the country and beyond, the girls delivered an outstanding performance, finishing fifth out of 151 teams in their division.

The Lions Jrs Starved Rock 16 Red roster includes players from several area high schools, including Sarah Weisbrock and Myah Richardson of Putnam County; Kaitlyn Coutts of Hall; Kijah Lucas of St. Bede; Bella Knoll, Meredith Waldron and Savannah Markey of Ottawa; Payton Harden of Princeton; and Maggie Boudreau of LaSalle-Peru.

Lucas was selected to the All-American Team.

Kijah Lucas was named to the All-American team at the AAU Nationals Volleyball Tournament in Orlando, Fla. (Photo provided by Shannon Jenkins)

The team started strong on Day 1, going 2-1 in pool play and finishing first in its group.

The momentum continued into Day 2, with the team sweeping all three matches to again take first place in its pool.

On Day 3, the team went 2-1, once again topping the pool and earning a spot in an additional challenge match, which it won to advance to the highly competitive gold bracket.

On the final day of play, the team went 1-1, securing fifth place.

Payten Harden of Princeton makes a pass for the Lions Jrs Starved Rock 16 Red club team at the AAU Nationals Volleyball Tournament in Orlando, Fla. (Photo provided by Shannon Jenkins)

Myah Richardson of Putnam County sets to Lions Jrs Starved Rock 16 Red club teammate Kijah Lucas (St. Bede/LaMoille) at the AAU Nationals Volleyball Tournament in Orlando, Fla. (Photo provided by Shannon Jenkins)