By Fred Kroner
Mahomet-Seymour’s seventh-grade volleyball team avenged a previous loss and reached the 20-win mark on Tuesday (Feb. 28), which enabled the Bulldogs to advance into the championship match of the IESA Class 4A Regional Tournament that M-S is hosting.
The Bulldogs, who dropped a three-set decision to Champaign Jefferson on Jan 26, scored a 25-18, 25-7 triumph in the Class 4A semifinal match over third-seeded Jefferson.
A day earlier, the second-seeded Bulldogs whipped Champaign Franklin, 25-9, 25-14, on Monday (Feb 27).
In the Thursday (March 2) title match, the Bulldogs will face top-seeded Champaign Edison, an opponent they beat at home on Feb. 6.
M-S (20-6) has a 10-match winning streak.
M-S carried momentum into the postseason following its second tournament championship of the season and five other victories.
In winning the Urbana Invitational on Saturday (Feb. 11), the Bulldogs handled Urbana (25-11, 25-15), Salt Fork (25-15, 25-12) and Springfield Grant (25-20, 25-17).
Other late-season wins came against Champaign Franklin on Thursday (Feb. 9), 25-12, 25-15, Champaign St. Matthew (25-17, 25-20 on Feb. 16), St. Joseph (25-22, 26-28, 25-16 on Feb. 21), Clinton (25-16 25-22 on Feb. 22) and Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley (27-25, 26-24 on Feb. 23).
The eighth-grade Bulldog volleyball team will also play its regional at home, starting with a quarterfinal match on Saturday (March 4) against seventh-seeded champaign Franklin. M-S is the No. 2 seed.
M-S was 4-4 in its final eight regular-season matches, including three-set losses to Urbana and Salt Fork. The Bulldogs also fell to St. Joseph and Clinton in straight sets.
The late-season wins for the team were over Champaign Franklin, Springfield Grant and Champaign St. Matthew – all in two sets – as well as a three-set thriller on Thursday (Feb. 23) against Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley to conclude the regular season at home.
The M-S eighth-graders are 14-10 overall.
