Darren Kinnard/River Radio Sports Central
WAYNE CITY — For the fourth time in the past nine postseasons, the NCOE Fighting Cardinals have made it to CEFCU Arena on the campus of Illinois State University for the 1A State Volleyball semifinals, this time after beating Okawville 25-10, 31-29 to capture the Wayne City 1A Supersectional.
After NCOE dominated the opener, game two was a slugfest, with neither team leading the back and forth affair by more than two points until Okawville rattled off five straight points to take a 22-18 lead. The Cardinals then scored four straight to tie it. NCOE later fought off three game points, and Okawville fought off three match points before the Cardinals sealed the deal on Kate Vollman’s crosscourt kill.
The Lady Rockets finished their season 27-13, having won the first volleyball sectional championship in school history.
NCOE’s six seniors went to state as freshmen, but they have fallen one game short of earning a return trip to state, losing in the supersectionals each of the past two seasons.
Now those senior Cardinals will fittingly finish their high school careers at the home of the Redbirds, the building formerly known as Redbird Arena.
NCOE (38-2) will face Stockton (35-5) in the first 1A semifinal at 9:00 Friday morning. Tremont (23-17) and Cissna Park (38-1) will square off in the second semifinal.
