Illinois State University’s Redbird Arena will be the site of the 2014 IHSA Girls Volleyball State Finals on Friday and Saturday, November 14-15. All 16 matches will be broadcast live on the NFHS Network at www.IHSA.tv.

The four state championships matches will also be replayed on Comcast SportsNet Chicago on November 21 & November 27 (click here for schedule).


CLASS 1A
CISSNA PARK (33-4)  vs.
KEITH COUNTRY DAY (37-2)
HARTSBURG-EMDEN (29-9)  vs. 
WOODLAWN (32-2)
Cissna Park and head coach Josh Landon make the first state final trip in school history behind a young squad led by underclassmen, including 5-11 junior Addison Stoller (308 kills). Two of the Lady Timberwolves losses this season have come against Class 2A state final qualifiers. New coach (Steve Williams), no problem, as senior standout Iman McGary (380 kills) has Keith Country Day back in the finals looking for a third consecutive state title. The Lady Cougars, winners of 25 straight, haven’t been pushed to three games in a match since Mid-September. Hartsburg-Emden is back at the state tourney for the fourth time under head coach Jennifer Hayes and the first since the school closed the book on two-class volleyball with the Class A crown in 2006. The Stags embody “small school” with an enrollment of 69 students, while this year’s squad is led by junior outside hitter Kaylee Beekman (269 kills). Woodlawn enters its first-ever state final appearance having won 28 straight matches, a streak that dates back to September 13. No player has been a bigger part of that run than 6-1 senior Annie Wehrman, who enters with more kills (500) and blocks (199) than any other player at Redbird Arena this weekend.


CLASS 2A
DEER CREEK-MACKINAW (34-3)  vs.  EDWARDS COUNTY (35-4)
DAKOTA (36-4)  vs.  WATSEKA (35-3)
Deer Creek-Mackinaw is back after the Lady Chiefs won the state title in 2012 and finished third a year ago under first-year head coach Brandon Mueller. Senior Lauren Anderson (394 kills) remains the constant from the past three years, as she tries to close a remarkable career with a second title. Kacey Nelson replaced legendary coach Linda Oxby at Edwards County this season, but the result is the same, as the Lions make their third consecutive state final trip. Senior Kaeli James (341 kills) has taken ownership of this year’s team, which avenged its only loss this season to a 1A foe (Newton) in the Sectional semifinals. Shannon Williams has Dakota back at state after a one-year hiatus, as the Lady Indians won the Class 1A state title in 2011 and then fell to Deer Creek-Mackinaw in the Class 2A title match in 2012. Versatile senior Jaycee Cleaver (245 kills, 476 assists, 289 digs) was a starter on the ’11 title team. Watseka reaches the state finals for the first-time in school history, as head coach Krista Pufahl’s squad outlasted defending state champ IC Catholic in three games in the Super-Sectional round. The Warriors unquestioned leader is senior Taylor Bauer, who eclipsed 400 kills on the season (404) in that victory.


CLASS 3A
MONTINI (23-11)  vs.  JOLIET CATHOLIC ACADEMY (24-16)
ST. FRANCIS (36-4)  vs.  MATER DEI (37-3)
A 7-0 start to the season and current seven-match win streak all add up to head coach Steve Dowjotas and Montini reaching the state tournament for the first time in school history. A challenging schedule have the Lady Broncos and 6-0 senior Monica Loftus (287 kills) ready to compete for a title. Joliet Catholic Academy was 9-12 on October 9, but head coach Christine Scheibe has the Angels back in the state finals for the seventh time in her 15 seasons as head coach. Senior Mary Murphy (303 kills, 339 assists) leads the way in JCA’s bid for a fourth state title. The 2014 edition of the St. Francis Spartans could be one of school’s best-ever, and that is saying something considering head coach Peg Kopec is the winningest coach in state history and the program enters as two-time defending state champs. Senior Mary Boken (201 kills), a three-year starter, is the glue of a squad that features several underclass starters. Mater Dei's return to the state tourney for the first-time since back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011 is a bittersweet occasion. The school’s 22nd state final trip will be the first without legendary coach Fred Rakers, who passed away last November, on the bench. Fred’s son, current head coach Chad Rakers, led the Lady Knights to the 2011 crown with his dad as an assistant coach and hopes that senior Madi Haake (245 kills, 353 digs) can lead the team to the school’s eighth state championship.


CLASS 4A
BENET ACADEMY (39-1)  vs.  NORMAL COMMUNITY (35-4)
LIBERTYVILLE (34-6)  vs.  LOYOLA ACADEMY (27-9)
Benet remains the model of consistency under head coach Brad Baker, having now reached the state finals five times in his eight seasons at the helm, including two titles. Senior Dana Griffin (284 kills) and company avenged last year’s state title match loss to Mother McAuley in the Super-Sectional round, outlasting the Mighty Macs during an epic 37-35 second game. Normal Community gets the chance to play for a title in its own backyard, as the school’s eighth state final appearance is also its first under fifth-year head coach Christine Konopasek. A balanced Ironmen squad has three players with at least 249 kills this year, including junior Micki Quakenbush (287 kills). Libertyville has reached 30 wins for the third time in six seasons under Greg Loika, who led the Wildcats to a fourth-place finish in 2012. Alex Basler, a 6-2 senior who contributed on the 2012 team, is Libertyville’s team leader in kills (293), blocks (90) and service aces (34). Mark Chang has Loyola in the state finals for the first-time in school history in just his third year at the helm. It may be a sign of things to come, as the Ramblers are led by a junior in every statistical category this season. The best of that talented bunch may be 6-2 outside hitter Christina Reed (243 kills, 160 digs).

TOURNAMENT HISTORY
41st annual State Series
8th year of 4-Class Series
25th year at ISU


SITE
Redbird Arena (Normal)
Directions


SCHEDULE
Friday, November 14
Session 1
Class 1A Semifinals
Cissna Park vs.
Keith Country Day- 9:00 a.m.

Hartsburg-Emden  vs.
Woodlawn - after match 1

Class 2A Semifinals
Deer Creek-Mackinaw vs.
Edwards County - after match 2

Dakota vs. Watseka - after match 3

Session 2
Class 3A Semifinals
Montini vs.
JCA - 4:30 p.m.

St. Francis vs. Mater Dei - after match 5

Class 4A Semifinals
Benet vs. Normal Community
- after match 6

Liberytville vs. Loyola - after match 7


Saturday, November 15
Session 3
Class 1A Finals
Third-Place - 9:00 a.m.
Championship - after 3rd place match

Class 2A Finals
Third-Place - after  1A championship match
Championship - after 3rd place match

Session 4
Class 3A Finals
Third-Place - 4:30 p.m.
Championship - after 3rd place match

Class 4A Finals
Third-Place - after  3A championship match
Championship - after 3rd place match


WATCH
All matches available live on www.IHSA.tv

Championship rebroadcasts on CSN Chicago Nov. 21/27


LISTEN
WGFA 94.1 FM (Watseka)
Watseka & Cissna Park matches
Internet Broadcast

WPXN 104.9 FM (Paxton)
Cissna Park matches

Edwards County Sports Net
Edwards County matches
Internet Only Broadcast

WFPS 92.1 FM (Freeport)
Dakota matches
Internet Broadcast

WCXO 96.7FM (Carlyle)
Mater Dei only

SportsTown Chicago
All matches
Internet Broadcast Only


RESULTS & LIVE STATS
IHSA Girls Volleyball Page


TICKETS
$8 per session


INTERACT
Twitter Coverage:
@IHSAState    #IHSA

Photos

Classic IHSA Soccer


HISTORY & RECORDS
2014 IHSA State Series

Record Book & Past Champions