Illinois State University’s Redbird Arena will be the site of the 2015 IHSA Girls Volleyball State Finals on Friday and Saturday, November 13-14. 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 19 (1A-7:00 p.m., 2A-8:15 p.m.) and November 22 (3A-1:00 p.m., 4A-4:30 p.m.).


      CLASS 1A
CLAY CITY LADY WOLVES (30-2)  vs.
CISSNA PARK LADY TIMBERWOLVES (32-5-1)
Clay City is making its first state final appearance in any sport behind the leadership of head coach Jamie Harvel, a CCHS alum who won just four matches in her inaugural season in 2013. The Lady Wolves have won 20 straight matches entering the finals behind junior outside hitter Macy Hance (213 kills, 182 digs) and junior Tori Matanich (134 kills, 174 digs).

Head coach Josh Landon led Cissna Park to its first state final appearance a year ago where the Lady Wolves placed third. Cissna Park isn’t just happy to be there in 2015, as they look for the first state title in any sport in school history. Senior middle hitter Addison Stoller, who is an All-State basketball player as well, leads the team in kills (282), while fellow senior Anna Kaeb sets the offense (838 assists).

EASTLAND COUGARS (38-1-1)  vs.
WETHERSGFIELD FLYING GEESE (32-7)
Legendary Eastland head coach Kristy Pierce is closing in on 1,000 career wins and returns the Cougars to the state finals for the first time since back-to-back state championships in 2008 and 2009. The 2015 edition is led by outside hitter Mackenzie Fink, who has set the school’s single-season kills record (447), with most of those being setup by fellow junior Ashley Beyers (1,158 assists).

The Flying Geese of Wethersfield soar into in the state finals for the first time in school history in head coach Tonya Vincent’s 10th year at the helm. Wethersfield appears to be ahead of schedule, as the team’s top five leaders in kills are all underclassmen, including freshman middle hitter Brittney Litton (346 kills) and junior outside hitter Rachel Rashid (182 kills).


     CLASS 2A
ORION CHARGERS (39-0)   vs.
SHELBYVILLE LADY RAMS (37-3)
Orion makes its second state final appearance in school history and first under head coach Jack Wheeler. Seniors Ashton Lee (427 kills) and Macy Hancock (704 assists) are trying to help the Chargers become the 11th state champion in state history to finish unbeaten and the first to do so since 2008(3A-Crystal Lake Central).

Shelbyville makes its eighth state final trip in school history and third under head coach Lisa Peifer, as the Rams look for their first title in school history. The team didn’t lose a match this season until October 10 and have lost just once this season to 1A competition. Seniors Claudia Watson (245 kills) and Ryann Ambrose (224 kills) provide a solid one-two offensive punch.

BLOOMINGTON CENTRAL CATHOLIC SAINTS (33-5)  vs.
TIMOTHY CHRISTIAN TROJANS (36-4)
Central Catholic has a pair of third-place finishes in its history and hopes to play for a title in their first state final appearance under head coach JR Banister. Junior Kate Hoerdemann (287 kills, 448 digs) and senior Sydney Shanks (240 kills) lead a squad that was tested by a tough schedule, including wins over state final qualifiers LaSalle-Peru (3A) and Normal Community (4A).

Timothy Christian head coach Scott Piersma has won 28, 36 and 36 games in his first three seasons, culminating in the school’s first state final appearance in 2015. The Trojans tandem of senior Ava Venema (297 kills) and junior Kendra Teune (296 kills) have helped the team win 19 of its last 20 matches.


     CLASS 3A
MARIAN CENTRAL CATHOLIC HURRICANES (37-3)   vs.
MASCOUTAH INDIANS (32-7)
Laura Watkins led Marian Central Catholic to back-to-back state final trips in 2010 and 2011, placing third and second, respectively. The Hurricanes hope that regular-season wins over three-time defending Class 3A champ St. Francis and fellow qualifier Joliet Catholic Academy foreshadow the school’s first state title behind junior Sydney Nemtuda (349 kills) and senior Rachel Giustino (316 kills).

Todd Gober has quickly transformed Mascoutah into a title contender, as the Indians won 26 matches in his inaugural season in 2013 and now make the first state final appearance in school history. The Indians have a balanced attack that features five players with 113 kills or more this season, including seniors Megan Lindsey (272 kills, 287 digs) and Amanda Jung (197 kills, 253 digs).

JOLIET CATHOLIC ACADEMY (25-12)  vs.
LASALLE-PERU LADY CAVALIERS (28-10)
Chris Scheibe’s Joliet Catholic Academy squad making it to the state finals can never be a surprise, even when the team has double-digit losses. JCA has eight state final trips and three titles under Schiebe, and with some key contributors back from injury, junior Taylor Zurliene (213 kills, 258 digs) and senior Addy Alt (139 kills) hope to put the Angels in position for a fourth championship.

LaSalle-Peru is just two years removed from playing in the state title match under head coach Mark Haberkorn. The Cavaliers will need to avenge a regular-season loss to JCA (25-27, 21-25) in order to return, but senior Taylor Gibson (337 kills, 227 digs) gives the team a two-way star, while Alexa Zimbelman is a versatile triple-threat (171 kills, 515 assists, 180 digs).


     CLASS 4A
GLENBARD WEST HILLTOPPERS (35-5)  vs.
NORMAL COMMUNITY IRONMEN (30-9)
Glenbard West has won at least 30 matches in each of its last five seasons under head coach Pete Mastandrea and now makes its first state final trip under the 10th year coach. Senior outside hitter Natalie Schilling is closing in on 500 kills on the season (483), while senior Quiana Ware (238 kills) adds a potent second offensive option.

Normal Community made five consecutive state final trips from 2001-2005. The Ironmen may be starting another run under head coach Christine Konopasek, as the team returns to state after placing third a year ago. The goal now moves to playing in the school’s first state title match, something that the experienced senior tandem of outside hitter Micki Quackenbush (316 kills) and libero Ginny Gerig (431 digs) hopes to make a reality.

CARY-GROVE TROJANS (35-5) vs.
ST. FRANCIS SPARTANS (37-3)
Patty Langanis has won nearly 600 games in her career at Cary-Grove, including the program’s amazing run from 2009-2011 that included a state title and two runner-up finishes. The senior tandem of 6-1 middle hitter Alli Splitt (305 kills, 163 blocks) and setter Erin Olson (775 assists) have guided the Trojans back to state and hope to guide the program to a second title amidst a new Redbird run.

Three-time defending Class 3A state champion St. Francis bumps up to Class 4A in 2015, giving legendary coach Peg Kopec the chance to become the first coach/program in state history in any sport to win titles in four different classes (A, AA, 3A, 4A). Senior middle hitter Molly Haggerty (443 kills) and senior setter Daniele Messa (868 assists) hope to end amazing careers by becoming the first program to win four consecutive IHSA volleyball state titles.

TOURNAMENT HISTORY
42nd annual State Series
9th year of 4-Class Series
26th year at ISU


SITE
Redbird Arena (Normal)
Directions


SCHEDULE
Friday, November 13
Session 1
Class 1A Semifinals
Clay City vs. Cissna Park - 9:00 a.m.

Eastland vs. Wethersfield - after match 1

Class 2A Semifinals
Orion vs. Shelbyville - after match 2

Blooomington Central Catholic vs. Timothy Christian - after match 3

Session 2
Class 3A Semifinals
Woodstock Marian vs.
Mascoutah - 4:00 p.m.

JCA vs. LaSalle-Peru - after match 5

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

Cary-Grove vs. St. Francis - after match 7


Saturday, November 14
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

Championships rebroadcast on CSN Chicago on November 19 & 22


LISTEN
WGFA 94.1 FM (Watseka)
Cissna Park only

WCCI 100.3 FM (Savanna)
Eastland only
Internet Broadcast

WJRE 102.5 FM (Kewanee)
Friday Wethersfield only
Internet Broadcast

WKEI 1450 AM (Kewanee)
Saturday Wethersfield only
Internet Broadcast

WMCI 101.3 FM (Mattoon)
Shelbyville only
Internet Broadcast

WLPO AM1220/FM103.9 (LaSalle/Peru)
LaSalle-Peru only
Internet Broadcast

SportsTown Chicago
All matches
Internet Broadcast Only


RESULTS & LIVE STATS
IHSA Girls Volleyball Page


TICKETS
$8 per session


STUDENT SAFETY
Play Smart. Play Hard.

Take the PSPH pledge...


SOCIAL MEDIA
#IHSA on Twitter
Twitter - @IHSAstate

Instagram - @IHSA_IL

Facebook.com/IHSA.IL

Classic IHSA YouTube Video


OFFICIAL STATE FINAL
Gear from Minerva

Photos from VIP

Balls from Wilson


HISTORY & RECORDS
2015 IHSA State Series

Record Book & Past Champions