State bound — The Central Lady Cougars volleyball team swept through their way through the sectional and super-sectional as they will play in the Class 2A Final Four this weekend at ISU. PHOTO BY JEREMY CHAWGO The Central Lady Cougars made it a perfect 12-0 in Super-Sectional games in school history with a sweep over Red Bud on Monday at the Class 2A Nashville Super-Sectional.
The Cougars are making their 10th trip to the Final Four and their fourth State Championship. They claimed State titles in 1996, 2005 and 2007.
“This is insanely exciting,” said junior outside hitter Madelyn Luebbers. “It’s been so long since we have gone to state, it’s really a blessing to get the chance to go.”
Block it down — The Central duo of Bailey Gebke and Lana Kraeger put the blocks up against Teutopolis hitter Gabby Tegler in the first game of the Lady Cougars’ sectional sweep over the Shoes on Tuesday. PHOTO BY JEREMY CHAWGO It was the 12th time in school history, and just their first sectional title since 2013, the Central Lady Cougars volleyball team claimed the Class 2A Vandalia Sectional title on Thursday with a sweep over Wesclin.
In 2013, the Lady Cougars were led by Maddie Timmermann en route to winning the Class 3A Triad Sectional and placing third at State under the late Jim Cook. They were 36-6 that season.
This edition of the Cougars swept Teutopolis and Wesclin to claim the Vandalia title before sweeping Red Bud to claim the Nashville Super-Sectional and move their record to 28-9 on the season.
The Cougars are in action on Friday at noon against Rochester in the Class 2A Final Four. The Rockets are 32-7 on the season and they are making their first-ever trip to the State Tournament.
Central 25-26, Red Bud 14-24: The Lady Cougars used another strong start to secure their 12th Super-Sectional title on Monday evening at the Assembly Hall in Nashville.
Dig it up — Central junior Aubrey Mulvin sends a pass to the setter in the first game of the Lady Cougars’ sweep over Teutopolis in Tuesday’s Vandalia Sectional semifinal. PHOTO BY JEREMY CHAWGO Both teams limited their errors with the Cougars’ having a postseason low with just eight unforced errors while the Musketeers had 11 of their own. The Lady Cougars outhit RBHS 31-26.
After Red Bud got on the board 1-0, Central stole all the momentum by scoring the next five points and the next nine out of 10 to lead 9-2. Junior Bailey Gebke had three kills and a block in the run while senior Haley Becker added two smashes.
“Our girls came out with a purpose today,” said Central head coach Kristen Torre. “We knew it was going to be a battle, and we wanted to set the tone from the start.”
A kill from Red Bud’s Corbyn Legendre ended the run before the Cougars fought right back with the next five points on a Gebke service run. Madelyn Luebbers had two kills and a block in the run for a 13-3 lead.
A kill from Luebbers and two hitting errors from Red Bud extended the lead to 16-4 and another timeout from the Musketeers.
Lengendre powered down a pair of kills to get the Bud within 16-8 before Central went back to work with a kill from Luebbers, a block from Becker and an ace from Kynley Barth for a 19-8 cushion.
Getting down — Wesclin’s Sophia Jervis sends a pass to the setter in the first game of the Warriors’ season-ending loss to Central in the Class 2A Vandalia Sectional title match. PHOTO BY JEREMY CHAWGO “We were very balanced tonight again like we were Thursday night,” added Torre. “We hit across the whole front line which makes us a bigger threat.”
An ace from junior Madi Redman and a kill from senior Lana Kraeger moved the lead to 23-12. Two-straight kills from sophomore Aspen Hollenkamp ended the game on Gebke’s service. Central had just three errors in the game.
“Red Bud is a great team, and we knew that going in,” said Gebke. “I think we came out in the first set hot and then we knew they would fight back and we just got the job done in the end.”
The second game was close throughout, with Central leading early on behind three errors from Red Bud and three kills from Luebbers for a 10-6 lead.
Leading 14-13, Central rallied three more points on a kill and an ace from Gebke and a kill from Hollenkamp for a 17-13 lead.
Trailing 18-14, Red Bud seized control of the game with a 7-1 run that featured three kills from Legendre and four errors from the Lady Cougars as they got the lead at 21-19.
The veteran Cougars answered with a kill from Becker and a kill and block from Gebke to get the game even at 22-22.
After a trio of side outs handing Red Bud game-point, the Cougars responded with a kill from Luebbers and Gebke before a net call against RBHS ended the match and sent the Cougars to the Final Four.
Gebke led all players with 10 kills while Luebbers added eight kills. Gebke also featured seven service points with two aces.
“The whole team stepped up tonight and played their roles which is huge,” added Luebbers. “When we spread the ball out, it’s a lot tougher to defend us.”
Redman had seven points and 14 digs while Becker had four kills.
Lengendre had nine kills for Red Bud while Reaghan Tallman had six and Peyton Kreher had five.
Central 25-25, Wesclin 16-22: The Lady Cougars took care of their county foes in straight games on Thursday in Fayette County.
The Cougars out hit the Warriors 25-20 while Wesclin made Central earn their points with the Warriors having just six unforced errors while the Cougars posted 15 errors.
“I am just so excited for the entire team,” said Central senior Lana Kraeger. “We just never have been able to get over that hump, and now that we have, it’s just awesome.”
The Lady Cougars never trailed in the opening game with a 6-0 run with the game tied at 3-3. Aspen Hollenkamp had a kill and a block in the run while Bailey Gebke added an ace.
Tessa Kruep put a kill down for the Warriors before CHS scored the next three on another kill and block from Hollenkamp and a block from Abbigail Leezer made it 12-4.
Three hitting errors from the Cougars and two kills from Lexi Kruger kept the Warriors in the contest as they were within 14-9.
A kill from Kruger and a block from Gebke got the game to 17-11 in favor of Central.
Another kill from Kruger got them within five points only to see the Cougars score the next five points with a kill from Haley Becker, a kill and two blocks from Kraeger to post CHS to a 22-12 lead.
Haiden Mueller and Maura Wessel got kills for the Warriors who got within 22-15. Gebke followed with a kill and an ace for the Cougars to get to game point.
Wesclin battled off the game point with a kill from Wessel and a block from Katelyn Wiblemo. Madelyn Luebbers ended the game with a smash from the right side.
“This is a great feeling,” said Central libero Madi Redman. “Especially after last season’s loss in the Regional championship. This is just a wonderful feeling and it was just a great team effort tonight.”
The script was flipped in the second game with Wesclin leading most of the time after an 8-4 run to start the game that featured two kills from Kruger and five unforced errors from the Cougars.
“This feels really good,” said second-year head coach Kristen Torre. “I’m just so proud of them and the work that they have put in. They showed up tonight ready to battle and we executed the game plan all night.”
Central got kills from Luebbers and Hollenkamp to stay alive before a kill from Wiblemo and an ace from Mueller gave the Warriors an 11-6 lead.
After Wesclin committed a net violation, Central got a kill from Luebbers and an ace from Kynley Barth to get within 11-9.
Wesclin stretched the lead to 17-13 after three more kills from Kruger and another from Wessel.
Central got a Gebke smash to ignite a four-point run that tied the game at 17-17 with a Luebbers kill and a Kraeger block.
After three side outs, Wesclin led 19-18 only to see the Cougars make their run.
“We came out determined and with a purpose tonight,” added Torre. “We started out knowing what we wanted to accomplish tonight and the girls got the job done.”
Luebbers put down a kill to spearhead a 5-0 run that also saw blocks from Luebbers and Kraeger along with a kill from Becker to get the Cougars to 23-19.
Two hitting errors and a kill from Kruger kept the Warriors in the contest at 23-22.
Luebbers put down her 10th kill of the match before Becker’s smash sent the Cougars to the Super-Sectional.
Luebbers led all players with 10 kills and two blocks while Gebke added five kills and nine points with two aces. Hollenkamp had three kills and three blocks while Becker added five kills. Kraeger had four blocks.
Wesclin got nine kills from Kruger and five kills and four points from Wessel.
Central 25-25, Teutopolis 20-23: The Lady Cougars used a strong start to avoid an upset bid from the Lady Wooden Shoes on Tuesday in Vandalia.
The Lady Cougars ran out to a 9-0 and a 12-1 run only to be outscored the rest of the way in game one, 19-13.
Central got off to the fast start with the help of three hitting errors from the Shoes, along with an ace from Madi Redman and two kills from senior Haley Becker for a 9-0 lead.
After a kill from Elise Pars ended the run, the Cougars got three more for a 12-1 lead behind two errors from THS and a smash from junior Madelyn Luebbers.
The Wooden Shoes went to work on a 7-1 run that featured two hitting errors from the Cougars and another kill from Pars to get within 13-8.
Central regained control of the contest with a 6-2 run that featured two kills and an ace from Luebbers as the purple and white led 19-10.
Teutopolis got five of the next six points with four errors from CHS to rally within 20-15.
The Cougars limped down the stretch with five side outs that included a kill from junior Bailey Gebke and two more from Luebbers included the game clinching 25th point.
The second game was a back-and-forth battle with the Shoes leading 3-2 after a service error from CHS and kills from Kaylie Jordan and Pars.
Central got a kill from Gebke to spark a five point run that saw the Shoes hit the ball out of bounds on three straight plays before a Luebbers kill gave CHS a 7-3 lead.
A kill from Emily Meyer ended the Cougars’ run only to see CHS get three more points on two errors from the Shoes and a kill from Lana Kraeger to garner a 10-4 lead.
They made it 12-5 when Abbigail Leezer added a big block for the Cougars.
Central returned the favor with four straight attacks touching well out of bounds on Jordan’s service run where the Shoes got things even at 13-13.
Luebbers, Kynley Barth and Aspen Hollenkamp got kills as Central regained the lead at 17-14.
Gabby Tegler got two kills, along with two hitting errors from the Cougars to get the lead at 18-17.
Another kill from Tegler and two blocks from Meyer allowed the Shoes to be in control at 22-20.
A hitting error from T-Town opening the door for the Cougars who followed with kills from Becker and Luebbers to take a 23-22 lead.
Emma Isley tied the contest with a kill down the middle only to see a hitting error give Central match point. A service receiving error by the Shoes ended the match to allow the Cougars to move on to the title match.
Luebbers led the match with 11 kills while Gebke had seven kills in a match where CHS out hit the Shoes 26-15. Central had 18 unforced errors while Teutopolis had 19.
“It was a tough game for us, our offense was just not clicking,” said Central head coach Kristen Torre. “But we found ways to fight through and get the job done.”
Redman had eight service points while Luebbers added three with two aces. Gebke had five points. Redman led with 19 digs while Gebke had nine.
Austyn Benhoff led with 11 assists while junior Jillian Beckmann posted 10 helpers. Redman had 18 serve receives with Luebbers having 10.
Pars led the Shoes with three kills and five points.
“That definitely was not our best match,” said Torre. “I think we played with some nerves and some anticipation of what sectionals look like and that got the best of us tonight. But we were good enough to win and move on.”
Wesclin 25-25, Newton 17-23: The Warriors knocked off the higher season Eagles in the night cap on Tuesday in Vandalia.
Tessa Palmer-Kruep led the Warriors with 11 kills while Maura Wessel added 10 for WHS. Myla Friederich added 23 digs while Sophia Jervis posted 15 digs. Haiden Mueller had 27 serve receives.
