After taking the regular season match-up against Altamont, then losing to them in the NTC tourney final, Stew-Stras won the season series against Altamont in the Stew-Stras 2A Regional final Saturday, 25-23, 25-20.

It was a battle that should have taken place at the state tournament, but the two teams met for the Stew-Stras 2A Regional Championship today. Altamont placed 4th in the state (2A) last year (19-3) as 7th graders and Stew-Stras (22-1) was beaten at sectional (1A) by Grayville, the eventual 1A state champs. Stew-Stras beat Altamont this year to earn the regional #1 seed, but Altamot beat Stew-Stras in the NTC tournament, the Stars only loss this season.

On Saturday, Stew-Stras was ready for the rematch in the final, but Altamont had to play a quick 2-game set just before the final. Stew-Stras took the first game barn-burner 25-23, Then had the edge against Altamont, playing their fourth game in an hour, and won game two, 25-20, for their second straight regional championship (38-3 the last two years).

"What an exciting match!" said Stars coach Kim Pinson. " We knew it would be a battle from beginning to end and it was. The girls worked all week on specifics, strategy and finding a way to win. They did an excellent job transfering elements from practice into the games.

"It was a complete team effort. The skills we struggled on all season were executed properly. They keys were: making serves, eliminating errors, and defensive coverage. In the end it came down to who wanted it more...and the Stars prevailed! I am proud of each and everyone of the ladies."

Stew-Stras defeated St. Elmo in the 10 a.m. semi, 25-20, 25-6, after St. Elmo defeated Neoga in the round one game. Altamont then defeated Beecher City in the 11 a.m. semi, 25-16, 25-10, to set up the expected final between the Stars and the Wildcats at 12:15.

Altamont had to play back-to-back matches and it showed early. They got the first point on an ace by Lauren White, but it ricocheted up into the net of a retractable basket and got snagged. After giving up trying to knock it down, they found another game ball and play resumed. A long rally ensude and Haylee Mathis ended it with a stunning block, 1-1.

Mathis got the serve and started with an ace. Two bad passes off the next two serves made it 3-1 Stars. Deidre Ledbetter swung for a Altamont kill and got the ball back. Alex Teasley served and She ended up at the net winning a battle, 3-3. The Stars hit long and Altamont was up 4-3.

Mathis had a good save and Burton blocked a shot causing a Wildcat lift, 4-4. A service error, followed by a Gabby Alwardt free kill, gave Altamont a slight lead, but then the Cats had a service error. Alwardt, the nimble 5'11" middle hitter for Altamont, had a block, but Brittany Tabbert got the next point on a kill and Baylee Quast went to the line with a 2-point lead, 8-6.

Mathis swung for the kill, but was called in the net. Kennedy Ferris responded with a free ball stuff. Tabbert served an Ferris had an overhead to an open spot, 10-7. Ferris got her third point in a row with a free ball stuff and Altamont had to call time, down 11-7.

Altamont got a tip, but then Mathis rose for another block. Ferris went to the line and served up an ace. The Cats hit out and Lindsay Burton blocked White's swing, 15-8 Stars. The Stars had a service error, but Mathis came right back a block. The ball came back andshe blocked again for the point, 16-9. It was starting to look too easy for the Stars, when the Wildcats fought back.

A Star block went out and Altamont got the possession. Nikki Tharp served and The Stars missed a kill, had a bad pass and missed two more kills in a row. Stew-Stras had to call time, up 16-14.

After the pause, another net battle occurred. Mathis had a quick tip, but Altamont got it back. Burton swung forthe kill and Altamont blocked it, but it went out. 17-14. Tabbert then swung for the kill, 18-14. The Cats got a tip kill and Desiree Nelson came off the bench to serve an ace, 18-16. The Stars broke serve and Tabbert swung for the kill. She came right back with another kill off a block, 21-16. The Stars missed a tip, but Tabbert came right back with another kill to end a marathon point, where Mathis was able to dig an Alwardt slam, 22-17.

A foot fault cost Cowden-Herrick dearly at a recent 7th grade regional and a foot fault against Stew-Stras could have done the same. The foot fault at 22-17 gave Altamont the ball. Alwardt had two consecutive swings that came back, but then Mathis missed a tip, 22-19. White then had a great dig, but Mathis was able to get the kill and possession. Altamont called time, down 23-19.

Ledbetter bumped to an open spot on the Stars side, then Alwardt served. The receive ricocheted to the rafters, point Cats. Alwardt then served an ace. Stew-Stras had to call time, up 23-22. Mathis tipped to the side of a block attempt and put the Stars at game point, 24-22.

Altamont had a great save to Alwardt who was able to follow with a bump to the Stars. The Stars couldn't get their bump reply in bounds and it was 24-23 . Mathis blocked a swing, but the Wildcats were able to get it back over. It went to the left of Burton and she reacted, reached out and tipped it over further to the left with no one Cat there, game point, 25-23.

That seemed to take something out of the Wildcats. Mathis opened game 2 with a net ace, Burton tipped for a point, and Mathis aced again. White got Altamont on the board killing off a Star block, but then Burton hit an overhead on a line, like a kill shot, 4-1 Stars.

Cierra Settlemire served and the dig receive carried long. Teasley won a net battle against Burton, but a service error gave the Stars the ball. No matter, Teasley got it right back with a kill. Tabbert hit a kill shot, but Alwardt answered with a block. Alwardt then got a tip to the side of the block. Ledbetter served consecutive aces and tied the score, 7-7, bringing a Star time-out.

Quast had a save, but couldn't get the point and Ledbetter served another ace, 9-7 Cats. It was a battle again. After a rally, Tabbert killed down the line. A bad Cat pass caused a missed kill and then Mathis swooped in from the second row to make a tip without hitting the net, 10-9 Stars, reclaiming the lead.

Alwardt tipped out, 11-9, but White came back with a side tip that fell in. The Stars failed to communicate and it cost them a point, tying the game 11-11. Mathis had a good swng and the ball never made it back, for the lead, but Alwardt answered with a tip to tie, 12-12.

The Cats won a net battle for the lead, but A service error tied it, 13-13. The Stars were in the net, then Teasley killed right into a block attempt for the point, 15-13 Cats. Cierra Settlemire tipped for the point, then served. Altamont had a save, but Burton took it and swung hard. The Cat dig went to the rafters, then to the floor for the tie, 15-15. Settlemire served an ace for the lead and Altamont called time, 16-15.

The Stars had a lift and the game was tied again, 16-16. Burton had a net kill for the lead, but a service error tied it. Altamont had a service error and Stew-Stras took the lead for good, 18-17. Baylee Quast served a short ace to the middle that got all the Stars congratulating her like she had won the game. She then served a cross-court ace, 20-17.

Kennedy Ferris took a free set and tipped it for a point. Alwardt had a great save, but Tabbert put the ball away, again. Altamont's spacing was bad on the next point and the hitter was crowded, missing the kill, 23-17 Stars. Altamont called their final time-out.

Ledbetter got a free tip to break serve and went to the line herself. She served, but Tabbert got her 11th kill of the match on a tip, bringing match point. Mathis missed a kill and Josie Phillips went to the line and served an Altamont ace for their final point of the season, 24-20. An anti-climactic service error ended the match, 25-20.

Stew-Stras (16-1, 10-0 NTC) have a week off since their regional was played in one day on the first day of the postseason. They will compete in the Albion Sectional on Monday, March 15.

Stew-Stras 2A Regional Final

Stew-Stras def. Altamont, 25-23, 25-20

Stew stats: Brittany Tabbert 11 kills, 11 digs; Haylee Mathis 4 aces, 3 kills, 3 blocks, 7 assists, 14 digs; Lindsay Burton 5 kills, 2 blocks, 2 assists, 10 digs; Cierra Settlemire 1 ace, 1 kil, 10 digs; Kennedy Ferris 1 ace 4 kills, 8 digs; Baylee Quast 2 aces, 7 assists, 5 digs



Stew-Stras 2A Regional Semi

Stew-Stras def. St. Elmo, 25-20, 25-6

Stew stats: Haylee Mathis 3 ace, 5 kills, 6 assists, 8 digs; Cierra Settlemire 2 aces, 4 kills, 6 digs; Baylee Quast 2 kills, 4 assists, 2 digs; Kennedy Ferrir 1 ace, 3 kills, 2 blocks, 1 assist, 4 digs; Brittany Tabbert 2 aces, 2 kills, 1 block, 3 digs; Lindsay Burton 1 ace, 1 kill, 2 digs; Sara Pieper 1 dig; Morgan Stremming 1 dig; Sarah Locke 1 dig.























*Watch for web updates and the Tuesday Daily Union print edition for the complete story, stats, and photos.