IESA Headlines

2011 Eighth Grade Volleyball State Tournaments Begin Saturday

For the fifth time in Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) history four champions will be crowned in the Eighth Grade Girls State Volleyball Tournament series. Competition in the Class 1A, Class 2A, Class 3A and Class 4A State Final Tournaments begins Saturday (March 19) and concludes Tuesday (March 22) at four sites.

Class 1A will be played at Hartsburg-Emden High School. Class 2A will be played at Mt. Pulaski High School. Tolono Unity Junior High School will be the site of Class 3A. Clinton Junior High School will host Class 4A.

The time schedule for all four tournaments will be the same. Upper bracket quarterfinals and semifinals will be played in the morning. Lower bracket quarterfinals and semifinals will be played beginning Saturday afternoon. The upper bracket quarterfinals are scheduled for 10:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. The winners meet in the semifinal at 1:00 p.m. The lower bracket quarterfinals are scheduled for 2:15 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. The winners meet in the semifinal at 5:15 p.m. Third place and championship matches will be played Tuesday with the third place match set for 5:30 p.m. and the championship match scheduled for 6:45 p.m.

Any changes in the playing status of each of the four tournaments will be posted on the IESA Web Site at www.iesa.org as each tournament progresses.

The price of admission Saturday is $7.00 for adults and $3.00 for seniors (62 and over) and students (K-8) and is good for all games Saturday. Children younger than kindergarten are admitted free. Fans attending the games Saturday will receive a wristband that is to be worn all day and will be used for entry into that respective state final site only throughout the day. It will not be honored at any other 7th grade state final site. The price of admission for the third place and championship game session Thursday will be $5.00 for adults and $2.00 for seniors and students (K-8). Children younger than kindergarten again are admitted free.

IESA girls volleyball began in 1976. There was one-class competition from 1976-84, and in 1985 the state series was divided into Class A and Class AA by school size. From 1989-2006, there were two classes state series for both seventh grade and eighth grade. Beginning in 2007, the seventh and eighth grade series have four classes each.

Complete pairings for each state final, plus the FanZone, can be found at www.iesa.org. Click on the Volleyball link at the top of the IESA Web Site Home Page.

Here is a look at each of the four 2011 Eighth Grade State Final Tournaments:

Class 1A @ Hartsburg-Emden High School

Ottawa Marquette (18-4) meets East Peoria Robein (17-2) in the first quarterfinal match at 10:00 a.m. This will be the first appearance for both of these teams in the Class 8-1A tournament. Lincoln Chester-East Lincoln (17-5) faces Royal Prairieview Ogden (12-2) in the second match at 11:15 a.m. The winners of these matches meet in the first semifinal match at 1:00 p.m. Lincoln Chester-East Lincoln is making their first appearance in this tournament. Royal Prairieview Ogden is making their first appearance since 2008 when the finished third in this tournament.

Augusta Southeastern (17-3) battles Lovejoy (14-5) in the third quarterfinal match at 2:15 p.m. Augusta Southeaster took second place in the 2010 Class 8-1A state tournament. Lovejoy will make their first appearance in Class 8-1A. Buckley St. John's (15-5) plays West Salem (20-4) at 3:30 p.m. West Salem went three sets with a tough Effingham Sacred Heart team to advance to state. Buckley St. John's has two previous appearances in this tournament and they finished in fourth place in both of those tournaments. The winners of these matches meet in the second semifinal match at 5:15 p.m.

Class 2A @ Mt. Pulaski High School

Three of the eight teams in the Class 2A field have unblemished records this year, Springfield Christ the King (24-0), Mazon-Verona-Kinsman (24-0), Lewistown Central (23-0).

Carrollton GS (20-2) plays Lexington (17-5) in the first quarterfinal match at 10:00 a.m. Carrollton GS took home the state title in this tournament just three years ago. Both teams also participated in the Class 2A seventh grade tournament last year. Springfield Christ the King (24-0) battles Mazon-Verona-Kinsman (24-0) at 11:15 a.m. This will be the first appearance for both of these teams in the Class 8-2A tournament. The winners of these matches meet in the first semifinal match at 1:00 p.m.

Abion (20-5) meets Lewistown Central (23-0) in the third quarterfinal match at 2:15 p.m. This is a rematch of the Class 7-2A state championship game last year. Lewistown Central won that match last year. Mansfield Blue Ridge JHS (18-4) squares off against Colchester West Prairie (21-4) at 3:30 p.m. This will be the first appearance in this tournament for Mansfield Blue Ridge. Colchester West Prairie did play in this tournament last year and took home the second place trophy. The winners of these two matches meet in the second semifinal match at 5:15 p.m.

Class 3A @ Tolono Unity JHS

Crest Hill Richland (18-5) meets Watseka Glenn Raymond (21-1) in the first quarterfinal match at 10:00 a.m. Both of the teams are making their first trip to the Class 8-3A tournament this year. Dunlap Valley MS (13-7) battles undefeated Mackinaw Dee-Mack (25-0) at 11:15 a.m. Dunlap Valley MS is making their first appearance in this tournament. Mackinaw Dee-Mack won the Class 7-3A state title last year. The winners of these two matches play in the first semifinal at 1:00 p.m.

Pleasant Plains (21-2) plays Casey-Westfield (17-3) in quarterfinal number three at 2:15 p.m. Pleasant Plains won the 2010 Class 8-3A State Championship game last year. The match between Carlinville (21-2) and Wenona Fieldcrest (22-1) follows at 3:30 p.m. Wenona Fieldcrest went the distance with Washington Central in the sectional championship to advance to state. Carlinville is looking for their first state title in this tournament since 2007. The winners of these two matches play in the second semifinal at 5:15 p.m.

Class 4A @ Clinton JHS

Seven of the eight Class 4A finalists have 20 or more wins this season. Lansing Memorial (21-1) meets undefeated Mattoon (24-0) in the first quarterfinal match at 10:00 a.m. Lansing Memorial is making their fifth straight appearance in the Class 8-4A tournament and Mattoon will be making their second straight appearance. Rochester (20-4) plays Normal Parkside (23-2) in the second match at 11:15 a.m. The winners of these two matches play the first semifinal at 1:00 p.m. Both of these teams experienced great success in last years Class 7-4A tournament. Normal Parkside took home first place and Rochester won third place.

Lockport Oak Prairie (17-3) battles Edwardsville Liberty (24-1) in quarterfinal match No. 3 at 2:15 p.m. Lockport Oak Prairie defeated Bolingbrook Jane Addams in the sectional championship to secure their spot at state. Edwardsville Liberty will try to build on their second place finish at the 2010 Class 7-4A state tournament.

Then Mendota Northbrook (20-1) and Manteno (23-2) square off at 3:30 p.m. Mendota Northbrook is making their third straight appearance in Class 8-4A. They finished fourth last year and second the year before. The winners of these two matches play in the second semifinal at 5:15 p.m.