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Take a look back to the sports photos of 2023 chosen by photographer Alex T. Paschal as his favorite of the year.

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Newman and Hiawatha meet Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023 at the Amboy basketball tournament. Newman won 43-11.

Meet the 2023 Sauk Valley Media All-Area girls volleyball team.

For her record-setting senior season that led the Rock Falls Rockets to a third-place finish at the Class 2A State Finals, outside hitter Claire Bickett is the 2023 Sauk Valley Media Volleyball Player of the Year.

For guiding the Rock Falls Rockets to a third-place finish at the Class 2A State Finals in the final season of her 26-year tenure, Sheila Pillars is the 2023 Sauk Valley Media Volleyball Coach of the Year.

When you’ve been at one program for 26 years, you’re bound to coach members of the same family. For Rock Falls volleyball coach Sheila Pillars, the family ties run deep. This year’s team has six players who had older sisters play, and two more sisters playing together.

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Rock Falls takes 3rd in State with a 3 set win (27-25, 21-25, 25-14) over Carmi-White County in the Class 2A Girls Volleyball Third Place match.

“Who would’ve thought in the 26th season, the last one would’ve been the first time she’d gone to state? I think it was meant to be.” Rock Falls take third at state in retiring coach's last game.

Rock Falls rallied from a big first-set deficit and bounced back from a second-set loss to defeat Carmi-White County and secure third place at the IHSA Class 2A girls volleyball state finals at CEFCU Arena in Normal on Saturday.