By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

The serving of Abby Kallis and the strong net play of Katarina Blasé proved to be the difference down the stretch.

Kallis used an aggressive serve that proved difficult to return. She scored eight straight points that opened a big lead in the third and deciding game and helped the Charleston Lady Trojans capture the championship of their own Class 3A Volleyball Regional.

As good as Kallis was in the third game, the most dominant player on the court was Blasé. Charleston’s 6’1” junior middle blocker had six kills and three blocks in the third game alone, helping the Lady Trojans post a 25-14 decision.

But she was also a factor in the first two games. When Blasé was at the net, she controlled the match.

“We tried to change our approach a little and keep the ball away from her,” EHS coach Laurie Bohnhoff said. “She plays so far above the net. She was able to block us several times when we were just trying to tap the ball. She’s tough.”

The No. 1 seed Lady Trojans also took the first game 25-16. They built an early eight-point lead, 14-6, but Effingham went on a 6-1 surge to narrow the gap to 15-12. Charleston then responded with a 10-4 run that closed out the opener.

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The high school volleyball regular season will come to a close this week, which means the postseason begins Monday night.

Teutopolis will host a Class 2A Regional and open play Monday. St. Anthony was assigned to the Casey-Westfield Class 1A Regional, while Effingham will compete in the Charleston Class 3A Regional. Both the Lady Bulldogs and Lady Hearts will play Tuesday.

Here is the schedule for the Casey-Westfield Regional:

Monday, Oct. 28

6 p.m. – Martinsville vs. Dieterich

Tuesday, Oct. 29

5:30 p.m. – Oblong vs. Casey-Westfield

6:30 p.m. – Hutsonville vs. St. Anthony

Wednesday, Oct. 30

5:30 p.m. – Winner Game 1 vs. Toledo

6:30 p.m. – Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3

Thursday, Oct. 31

6 p.m. – Championship Match

Here is the schedule for the Teutopolis Regional:

Monday, Oct. 28

5:30 p.m. – Teutopolis vs. Sullivan

6:30 p.m. – Vandalia vs. Salem

Tuesday, Oct. 29

5:30 p.m. – Paris vs. Winner Game 1

6:30 p.m. – Pana vs. Winner Game 2

Thursday, Oct. 31

6 p.m. – Championship Match

Here is the schedule for the Charleston Regional:

Tuesday, Oct. 29

5:30 p.m. – Charleston vs. Olney

6:30 p.m. – Marion vs. Effingham

Thursday, Oct. 31

6 p.m. – Championship Match

The Casey-Westfield Regional winner will advance to the Windsor Sectional, while the Teutopolis Regional winner will head to the Salem Sectional and the Charleston Regional champ will play in the Waterloo Sectional.

By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

Momentum is an important, but fickle, thing in sports.

It can help teams seize control of an event, but then in a blink of an eye, change sides.

Such was the case Tuesday night in Charleston.

The Effingham Lady Hearts won the first set against Marion in an opening-round match of the Charleston Class 3A Volleyball Regional.

But the Lady Wildcats clearly had control of the momentum in the second match, building a nine-point lead three different times. But after taking a 22-13 advantage and putting themselves in position for a deciding third set, “Old Mo” switched sides of the net.

With Alexis Chrappa and Kennedy Sowell providing power at the net and Sam Urch and Hayley Dively adding accurate serves, the Lady Hearts came storming back. They closed the second set with a 12-1 run and clinched the match by posting a 25-23 victory.

Marion was still up 23-19 when Dively took over the serving chores. Sowell had a kill and block and Chrappa added a kill and a perfectly placed shop for another point. There was also a net violation and when a final shot fell untouched in the middle of four Marion players, the Lady Hearts had reason to celebrate.

“We made a nice comeback,” EHS coach Laurie Bohnhoff admitted just moments after the match ended. “Lexi and Kennedy made some nice shots in the front row and Sam and Hayley served very well. That combination is what helped us go on that run.”

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The Effingham Lady Hearts closed their regular season volleyball schedule with a hard-fought, three-set victory at home over Mattoon.

The scores were 25-17, 23-25, 25-19.

For EHS, Brueklyn Belcher had 1 kill, 1 dig, 1 block; Eliza Montgomery 2 kills, 1 dig, 1 block; Taylor O’Dell 19 assists, 3 digs; Hayley Dively 1 kill, 14 assists, 9 digs; Alexis Chrappa 13 kills, 1 assist, 1 ace, 17 digs, 1 block; Kennedy Sowell 7 kills, 2 blocks; Jacy Boatman 12 kills, 1 assist, 2 aces, 21 digs, 1 block; Callie Feldhake 2 kills, 1 assist, 1 ace3, 4 digs, 1 block; Morgan Hagler 2 aces, 1 dig; and Olivia Martin 1 kill and 17 digs.

Mattoon won the junior varsity match by scores of 25-15, 25-18; but the Lady Hearts took the freshman contest. Those scores were 13-21, 21-17, 15-9.

The Lady Hearts will play Tuesday in the Charleston Regional. They will play Marion at 6:30 p.m.