Published: October 19, 2009 06:38 am      

Volleyball roundup: Unity wins season finale

Herald Staff Report

FULTON, Ill. — Fulton Unity Christian closed the volleyball season with 25-22, 25-13 victory against visiting Cono Christian High School of Walker on Saturday.

“It was Senior Night and we had a little different lineup, and I thought the seniors really played well considering they hadn’t played together much,” Unity coach Jana Behr said.

The win left the Knights with a 22-9 season record.

“That’s probably better than we thought we’d do,” Behr said. “We lost two in the conference and finished second, which we’re happy with. For facing some bigger public schools in tournaments, I thought we did do pretty well.”

Junior Callie Willoughby, who moved from the outside to the middle because of an injury suffered by Hannah Dykstra at the conference tournament, led Unity with five kills and was 18-for-18 serving with nine aces.

“She did well making the transition,” Behr said.

“I also was really happy with (seniors) Sherry Nelson and Alyssa Dalrymple. They just really plcked up their games and played well.”

FULTON UNITY CHRISTIAN 25-25,

CONO CHRISTIAN 22-13

Unity statistical leaders

Kills — Callie Willoughby 5, Rebecca Meinema 4, Wendy Van Pelt 3. Blocks — Heather Hintz 1, Meinema 1. Assists — Hintz 5, Sherry Nelson 2, Willoughby 1. Serving — Van Pelt 4-5, 1 ace; Meinema 7-7, 3 aces; Willoughby 18-18, 9 aces; Nelson 5-6, 1 ace. Kayle Tomman 1-2; Alyssa Dalrymple 3-3, 1 ace. Digs — Hintz 5, Meinema 3, Willoughby 3, Dalrymple 2, Tomman 1, Van Pelt 1.

Steamers 3rd in tourney

MENDOTA, Ill. — The Fulton volleyball team finished third overall at Saturday's eight-team Mendota Rally Tournament.

The Steamers defeated Spring Valley Hall in pool-play action, and after losing to eventual champion Coal City in the semifinals, Fulton bounced back for a 25-14, 25-21 win over host Mendota to earn a third-place finish.

Amber Grant had 38 kills and nine blocks, Allison DeWeerdt had 65 assists and five aces, while Kim Rogis totaled 53 digs to lead the Steamers.

Lindsey Renkes had 36 kills and three blocks, Lydia Schaver had 56 assists and a team-high seven aces, Kelsey Munck had 25 kills and 27 digs, while Kari Kuehl had 38 digs and six aces.



MENDOTA RALLY TOURNAMENT

Pool play — Lexington def. 27-25, 25-19, 15-7; Orion def. Fulton 17-25, 25-22, 15-12; Fulton def. Hall 25-17, 24-26, 15-5.

Semifinals —Coal City def. Fulton 23-25, 25-15, 15-13.

Third-place match — Fulton def. Mendota 25-14, 25-21.

Championship — Coal City def. Orion 25-19, 18-25, 25-18.

Fulton statistical leaders

Kills — Amber Grant 38, Lindsey Renkes 36, Kelsey Munck 25, Liz Sanquist 21, Paige Sanquist 14. Assists — Allison DeWeerdt 65, Lydia Schaver 56. Digs — Kim Rogis 53, Kari Kuehl 38, Munck 27, Schaver 19, DeWeerdt 19. Aces — Schaver 7, Kuehl 6, DeWeerdt 5, Munck 4, Renkes 4. Blocks — Grant 9, Renkes 3, Liz Sanquist 2.