Morris volleyball beats Sandwich in regional play

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The Redskins volleyball team beat Sandwich but lost to Joliet Catholic Academy on Thursday at the Morris Class 3A Regional. (Adam Nekola)

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Keyed by a 7-point run by senior outside hitter Hali Steffes in the opening game, and a 9-point burst from junior middle hitter Monica Belt in the second, the Morris Lady Redskins downed the Sandwich Lady Indians 25-16 and 25-13 in the opening match of the Morris IHSA Class 2A Volleyball Regional Thursday afternoon.

It was 14-14 in the initial game when Steffes gleaned a sideout with a cross-court kill. Steffes then stepped to the stripe and injected a pair of aces in her run that gave Morris a 22-14 edge. Steffes had a kill in the surge, when her smack tickled the net and bounded over while freshman Kendall Korte chipped in with a kill off a block attempt by junior Jordan Flowers.

The teams then traded sideouts as Anna Simmons for Sandwich hit a cross-courter out of the right front before junior Leslie Claire of the Redskins converted a quick set for a kill. Two markers by senior designated server Taylor Severson, giving her seven in the contest, closed it out. Belt had a hand in both points, initially stuffing a hit down the center slot by senior middle hitter Taylor Anderson before clubbing a kill to end it.

The Lady Indians, who bow out 5-22-1, were up 9-7 in the second game when Belt stepped to the line. A booming kill by Steffes, that nearly handcuffed Sandwich senior libero Alexandra Woods, set in motion her 9-marker run that included a trio of aces. One caromed over the net while a second ace bit the right sideline.

"It builds us up when we have runs like that," admitted Morris coach Jackie Litwiller.

Severson edged the Redskins advantage to 22-12 with a couple of points that featured a kill tip by Korte on a free-ball opportunity. A kill by Korte on a serve by Lauren Hausken ended it.

Steffes topped Morris with seven kills while Korte and Alex Rezin downed five each out of a team total of 19. The Lady Indians countered with a dozen kills with Anderson collecting half. Danielle Pearson chipped in with a trio.

"We played well as a team," said Litwiller. "We covered for each other."

Severson and Belt had 10 service markers each while Steffes ended with seven. Rezin provided a dozen assists, Steffes a half dozen digs and Kaileen Cummings eight serve receives.

Severson and Belt had three aces apiece. Jacqueline Lorusso led Sandwich with five service points. Pearson had three, including the lone ace.

Lorusso gave the Lady Indians a 5-1 edge early in the match. Anderson had a down tip off a free ball plus a kill in the surge. Morris came right back, with Severson providing five markers that included a trio of aces.

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