JV Lady Coalers going to state

The Coal City Middle School 7th grade volleyball team, under the direction of coach Gina Horrie, will play in the first round of the Class 4A State Tournament on Friday.
The Lady Coalers defeated Charleston on Monday, 25-11, 25-15, to claim the Mahomet-Seymour sectional championship and advance to the final eight in the state. They will battle Chatham Glenwood (13-9) at 5:45 p.m. Friday at Normal Kingsley Junior High School in Normal.
If they win the Lady Coalers (19-3) will advance to the semifinal at 11 a.m. Saturday against either St. Jacob Triad (21-3-2) or Mokena (11-5). The winner of that match will play for the state championship at 3:15 p.m. on Saturday while the loser will play for third place at 2 p.m.
The other teams in the lower bracket include Lemont Old Quarry (8-2), Morton JHS (24-4), Frankfort Hickory Creek (24-0) and Vernon Hills Hawthorn South (16-3).
The JV Lady Coalers won the regional title Wednesday in three sets—25-3, 19-25 and 25-14. 
 The regional championship was hosted by Bourbonnais Elementary School and at the close of the match Coal City’s Marina Figge was recognized with the Illinois Elementary School Association [IESA] Sportsmanship pin, an award presented to players who demonstrate the highest level of sportsmanship and respect for others. 
 Leading the way for the Coalers  on the court was Avery Male who served 17 points in a row during the first set to get the game started. She had a total of 21 points and 7 aces.  
 Figge contributed 9 points and 6 aces; Emma D'Orazio had 6 points and 2 aces; Penny D'Arcy  added 5 points and 1 ace; Darcie Ladas  added 4 points and  2 aces, and 1 point and 1 ace was added by Liv Ferrari. 
 Darcie Ladas and Marina Figge led kills with 6 each. Ava Mills had 3, Emma D'Orazio had 2, and Liv Ferrari had 1. Ellie Grunwald and Ava Mills each had 1 block. Penny D'Arcy led digs with 4; Liv Ferrari, Marina Figge, and Avery Male each had 4, and Emma D'Orazio had 2.  Avery Male had 18 setting assists.