The Macomb High volleyball squad earned a spot in a regional final for the fifth straight year (post COVID) with a hard-fought 25-19, 28-26 victory over Pittsfield Tuesday evening at The Hangar.
It was the second semifinal in an Illinois High School Association Class 2A Regional hosted by the Bombers at MHS.
“It’s all about ‘Survive and Advance’ in the postseason. And it was definitely survive on our part,” said MHS coach Hillary Humes.
“We were nervous,” she added. “Balls that don’t normally drop on us dropped (free balls). But they pushed through their nerves and never quit. That’s what it takes at this stage of the season.”
Freshman Jersee Mills had six kills and seven digs for MHS. She also notched 13 service points that included one service ace.
Classmate Brixley Lidaywa also recorded six kills, along with two digs and two blocks.
Senior Cadence Hotz added four kills and six blocks, while senior Jordan Hines chipped in two kills, seven digs and three blocks.
Senior Emily Westerhold chipped in nine digs and one service ace, while classmate Sophie Wilson handed out 17 set assists and recorded six digs.
Regional play began Monday with No. 7 seed West Hancock defeating No. 10 seed Beardstown H.S. 25-9, 25-18.
Tuesday’s first semifinal saw No. 2 seed Pleasant Plains beat West Hancock 25-23, 25-18.
No. 3 seed Macomb then defeated No. 6 seed Pittsfield.
Macomb (21-14) faced Pleasant Plains (23-12) Thursday evening at The Hangar for the regional title and chance to advance to next week’s Class 2A Sectional at Beardstown.
The Bombers were seeking to win their fourth regional title in the past five years.
A year ago, the Bombers lost to Tremont 25-22, 25-23 in the title contest at Farmington to finish with a record of 31-5.
Pleasant Plains was also seeking its fourth regional title in the past five years.
A year ago, the Cardinals lost to host Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin in the final 25-17, 25-13.
Pleasant Plains finished with a final record of 22-16.
SHG also went on to beat Tremont in the sectional semifinal at Riverton.
“There won’t be any easy wins,” said Humes. “We’re going to have to fight and persevere to keep advancing, and this team has shown that in spades all season.”
Regional title matches were also set to be played at Quincy Notre Dame, Virden and Rochester on Thursday evening.
The sectional schedule at Beardstown will be as follows (in parentheses are sub-sectional seeds before the school name and season records following): Tue., Nov. 4
Match 1 – (1) Quincy Notre Dame (26-8) or (5) Illini West (22-12) vs. (2) Staunton (23-12) or (3) Hillsboro (24--
12), 6 p.m.
Match 2 – (1) Rochester (26-8) or (4) Riverton (23-13) vs.
(2) Pleasant Plains (23-12) or (3) Macomb (21-14), 7 p.m.
Thu., Nov. 6
Match 3 – Winner Match 1 vs. Winner Match 2, 6 p.m.
The sectional champion advances to the Nov. 10 supersectional at Vandalia.
