VOLLEYBALL: PCHS wins three-set semifinal with Du Quoin
Danielle Bruns and Katelyn Mayer each had 10 kills to lead the way for second-seeded Pinckneyville as the Lady Panthers knocked off No. 3 seed Du Quoin 25-15, 19-25, 25-13 in the semifinals of the IHSA Class 2A Volleyball Regional at Christopher High School on Tuesday night.
A big rally in the second set by the Lady Indians gave them all the momentum, but PCHS seemed unfazed by the do-or-die circumstances in the third.
"We've been in that situation a lot all season," said Pinckneyville head coach Katie Shaneyfelt. "I've talked a lot about our mental game this year, and every game they've gotten tougher and tougher. I truly feel that prepared us for this moment. I felt extremely confident and comfortable with my players, I could tell they were alert and ready."
A 5-0 run in the middle of the first set gave Pinckneyville a 20-12 lead, one they extended to ten with set point. With a similar advantage in the second set, up 17-11, the Lady Panthers allowed Du Quoin to creep back into the match as Alexis Kohrs' service ace capped off six straight points for the Lady Indians to tie it.
A Mayer kill restored PCHS's lead at 19-18, but DHS stormed back for seven unanswered points to end the set and take it 25-19. Kate Toler had a pair of kills during the late rally.
"I was proud of the girls for hanging in there and fighting back," said DHS head coach Jesica Green. "They came ready to play tonight."
Du Quoin led the third set 2-1 in the early-going, but Pinckneyville scored twelve of the next fourteen points to seize command, often taking advantage of their height at the net whenever Lady Indian Rebekah Maddox wasn't up there to block.
"That was our plan tonight, we really wanted to turn it up when Maddox was on the back row," said Shaneyfelt. "We've been working on our defense and our blocking and I think that was really strong for us tonight."
Haley Simpson added 8 kills for PCHS, Morgan Wild 3 and Denise Bruns 2. Simpson, De. Bruns, Mayer, Kristen Ginn and Kaitlyn Sweeney shared the team lead in digs with 3 apiece. Wild and Bailey Nippe each had 2. De. Bruns had 2.5 blocks for the Lady Panthers, Da. Bruns 2.
For Du Quoin, Maddox's 14 kills were a Lady Indian best on Tuesday night. Jessie Martin added 10, Kate Toler 7 and Cassidy Rice 5. Martin led DHS in digs with 12, Bailie Caldwell had 10. Hailey Stewart finished with 27 assists for the Lady Indians, who finish their season at 8-19 overall.
Pinckneyville (10-21) will now meet the Christopher Regional's top seed, Sparta, in Thursday's championship. The winner moves on to next week's Sectional at Nashville where they will take on the winner of the Anna-Jonesboro Regional - either No. 2 seed A-J or top-seeded Carterville - on Tuesday, Oct. 30 at 6:00 p.m.
"We just have to come and want it," Shaneyfelt said. "We've had two tough battles with (Sparta) this season in conference play, I think it'll be a pretty tough game."
The Lady Bulldogs defeated Regional host Christopher in Tuesday's early game 25-8, 25-19 to advance to Thursday's championship match with Pinckneyville.