Volleyball roundup: Sterling advances to regional final again; Dixon falls in semifinals

Sauk Valley sports roundup

The Sterling Golden Warriors advanced to the regional championship match for the eighth straight season, defeating La Salle-Peru 25-13, 25-23 in the semifinals of the Class 3A Sterling Regional on Tuesday night at Musgrove Fieldhouse.

With no state tournament in the COVID season this past spring, Sterling (15-17-1) is still the two-time reigning Class 3A state champion. The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers for the second time in nine days.

Grace Egan had 19 kills, a block and three aces, while Kathryn Rowzee spiked six kills for Sterling. Karmen Weinrich had 15 digs, Emma Smith added 10 digs and two aces, and Delali Amankwa dished 23 assists. Mallory Osborne stuffed two blocks, and Katie Dittmar served a pair of aces.

The Warriors will take on Geneseo in the regional title match Thursday. The Maple Leafs defeated Ottawa 25-13, 25-17.

3A Galesburg Regional

Dunlap def. Dixon 25-11, 25-17: The Duchesses’ season came to a close with a regional semifinal loss in Galesburg.

Mallory Coley had five kills, three blocks and six digs for Dixon, and Ella Govig added three kills and six blocks. Elena Castillo-Wetzell finished with 16 digs and an ace, Natalie Davidson added seven digs, and Izzi McCommons served an ace. Holli Miller had seven assists and two digs, and Sydney Hargrave chipped in three assists and a dig.

Dunlap will play top-seeded Rock Island in the regional final Thursday.

2A Prophetstown Regional

Kewanee def. Erie-Prophetstown 25-19, 25-17: The host Panthers fell in the regional semifinals, as the Boilermakers moved on to face Riverdale in Thursday’s title tilt.

2A Bureau Valley Regional

Knoxville def. Bureau Valley 25-16, 25-21: The Storm saw their season come to an end with a regional semifinal loss to Knoxville in Manlius. Knoxville will play Princeton, a 25-7, 25-6 winner over Farmington in the other semifinal, for the regional title on Thursday.

1A Eastland Regional

Eastland def. Morrison 25-11, 25-11: The Cougars rolled to a regional quarterfinal win in Lanark to advance to tonight’s semifinals against Fulton.

Addison Burkholder spiked eight kills, and Jenica Stoner dished 26 assists for Eastland (25-10-1). Chloe Sweitzer led the way with 16 digs, Quinc Haverland served seven aces, and Katlyn Spong stuffed a pair of blocks.

Fulton def. River Ridge 25-22, 25-15: The Steamers pulled out a close first set, then pulled away to win the second set in the regional quarterfinals in Lanark to give coach Stacy Germann her 500th career victory.

Reese Dykstra led Fulton with eight kills and three aces, and she also had three digs. Brooklyn Brennan finished with five kills, 13 assists, five digs and two aces, Annaka Hackett spiked four kills, and Kamryn Sikkema slammed three kills. Jersey Boyson dished eight assists, Teegan Germann added 12 digs, Mikayla Gazo had six digs, and Ava Bowen served a pair of aces for the Steamers.

1A AFC Regional

Annawan def. Amboy 25-20, 25-15: The Clippers’ season ended with a straight-sets loss to Annawan in the regional quarterfinals in Ashton.

Courtney Ortgiesen led Amboy with 12 digs and three kills, while Tyrah Vaessen finished with 10 assists and three aces. Kaysi Schaeffer spiked three kills, Madison O’Malley served two aces, and Elly Jones and Chloe Heath each added eight digs.

Annawan advances to tonight’s regional semifinal, where it will face the Polo Marcos, who won by forfeit over DePue in the other semifinal.

College volleyball

Sauk Valley def. Black Hawk 25-15, 25-23, 25-16: The Skyhawks finished off an undefeated Arrowhead Conference season with a straight-sets win in Dixon.

Michal Willman had 16 kills, 13 digs and six aces for Sauk (35-2, 8-0 Arrowhead), and Kiley Sanders added 10 kills and 11 digs. Jaelyn Fitzgerald finished with six kills and four blocks, Tiana Tichler spiked five kills, and Kierra Collins stuffed three blocks. Gabby Jones had 23 assists and eight digs, Addyson Kinn dished 13 assists, and Maddie Sands chipped in 17 digs.

The Skyhawks close the regular season with a trip to Cicero tonight.

Ty Reynolds

Ty Reynolds

Ty is the Sports Editor at Sauk Valley Media, and has covered sports in the Sauk Valley for more than two decades.