SHELBYVILLE, IL. — Okaw Valley Middle School Volleyball looks forward to playing at Shebyville every year with hopes to upset the bigger program. After Tuesday night, Okaw will have to hope for next year. Shelbyville Moulton swept Okaw in in straight games. The Ram 7th won, 25-10, 25-10, and the Ram 8th won, 25-8, 25-23.

"The win was a team effort by everyone," said Ram 7th coach Brittany Pierce."All of the girls did an excellent job of staying under control and controlling our side of the net better and better with each match. Our serving was really key. Everyone who stepped up to the service line did an excellent job of putting the ball in play. Cailin Wilson and Torre Koontz bothh served awesome for us with 15 poits and 14 points, respectively, and nine aces apiece."

Okaw 7th was young, playing some 6th graders so they were over-matched from the outset. Moulton 7th ran up a quick 9-2 lead in game 1. The Rams used a quick tip to got up 10-3, then had a 3-point run with an ace and a Jacque Johnston kill. Okaw called time-out down 13-3.

After the time-out another serve was too hot, followed by back-to-back aces. At 17-3, the Rams had a service error to end the 8-point run. Okaw also served an error. Shelby delivered an ace then a service error.

Madison Ulrich then served consecutive aces for Okaw, 19-7. Torre Koontz countered with a tip for Shelby, then Shelby served an ace. The teams traded service errors again, then Okaw's Natalie Jeffers blocked a shot at the net, 22-10. Another Okaw service error gave the Rams the ball for the next two points, 25-10.

Game 2 started with another early Ram run. Cailin WIlson got the ball up 2-1 and served an 8-point run, including five aces. Okaw called time to try to throw her off but it didn't work. Maddie Holland got down for a dig that was not returned, 10-1 Rams.

Jeffers blocked another kill for an Okaw score. Jasmin Baumbarger then served a short ace, 10-3. Okaw missed a kill and Torre Koontz got the ball for Shelby.

Koontz served six straight aces, 19-3. At 19-3, she served another ace. Okaw got the ball back on a service error, but gave it right back. Shelby did too for their second straight service error. Okaw then got some traction. Ulrich swung for a kill. The Rams had 4 hits. The Rams didn't talk and a ball dropped. Okaw then aced and the Rams had a bad set on the next point, 21-9.

Johnston swung for the Ram kill, but then Ulrich killed a free ball, 22-10. A service error gave the Rams possession and Jerrica Hood went to the line and served out the match. On match point , Hood served an ace, 25-10.

7th

Moulton def. Okaw Valley, 25-10, 25-10

Ram stats: Cailin Wilson 15 points, 9 aces; Torre Koontz 14 points, 9 aces, 1 kill; Sydney Miller 8 points, 3 aces; Jacque Johnston 3 points, 2 aces, 2 kills; Jerrica Hood 3 points, 1 ace; Kary Langan 3 points, 1 ace.

The 8th grade match started the same way the 7th grade match went, but didn't end the same way.

"Okaw Valley gave us a tough run and we laid down for part of the match," said Ram 8th coach Jill Miller. "It was fun to play against a former Shelbyville player and a fun match. Communication is again a huge key for us. When we get that down we're going to do great things."

The Rams scored first, but Okaw's Nicole Miller tip to tie the game at 1-1. Hannah Koonce then sung for a Shelby kill giving Kelcie Darnell the serve, 2-1.

Darnell served three straight, including an ace. At 5-1, Okaw called time-out. But it didn't affect Darnell's service run. Ryann Ambrose sung for the kill and Koonce followed with a kill. Darnell aced again. At 10-1, Darnell served three consecutive aces, including a anet ace, 13-1.

Hannah Dicken then killed a free ball for Okaw. Koonce ended a long rally with another kill. Claudia Watson served the Rams to 15-2. Alternate service errors gave Shelby's Autum Snyder the ball at 16-3.

She served Shelby to 18-3, then delivered a short ace, followed by a Watson quick-tip, 20-3.Okaw got to points, then Quincy Beyers made a Ram kill. The ball went to Okaw at 21-6, then Beyers killed again. Another Ram service error gave Okaw the ball at 22-7. But, Beyers delivered another kill, 23-7.

Okaw gave away possession on a service error, giving Kaylee Davis serve on game point. She delivered an ace, 25-8.

After the lopsided game 1, Coach Jill Miller substituted for game 2. Courtney Williams gave Moulton a quick 2-0 lead. A missed kill gave Okaw the ball at 2-1. Nicole Miller went to the line and dug in.

She served three straight aces and the Rams were out of sync, 4-2 Okaw. The Rams overhead went into the net. Then Miller served another ace. The Rams had to call time-out. Another bad pass and Miller's fourth ace pout Okaw up 8-2.

Isabel Leach stopped the bleeding for Shelby with a kill, giving Beyers the serve. Davis swung for the kill and Okaw had a 4 hits., 8-5. The Rams floor play was in a funk and made a bad pass. Okaw got possession and Charlie Ulrich got the serve.

Meghan dash free stuffed the Rams and Ulrich delivered an ace. The Rams tried a quick-tip, but Dash stuffed it again, 12-5. The Rams got the ball for Darnell, but they couldn't give her a run.

Devan Nave swung for a kill, then the Rams had another bad pass, giving Okaw an 8-point lead, 14-6. Ryann Ambrose stopped the bleeding again with a kill and Okaw hit long. Okaw went up 16-8.

After four alternating service errors by the combatants and Shelby had the serve, down 18-11. Courtney Williams then served a run. She started with three straight aces. Okaw called time to ice her. It didn't work. Williams hit a quick-tip and Okaw couldn't return it. Willimas served another ace and it was suddenly a 2-point game, 18-16 Okaw.

At 19-16, Leach swung for a kill off a block. Beyers served the Rams to 19-18, but Madison Ulrich had an Okaw kill shot, 20-18. Madison Fox then stuffed a free ball for a 21-18 Okaw lead. A service error gave the  Rams the ball, but a Ram quick-tip was stuffed right back at them, 22-19 Okaw.

A net calll gave the Rams the ball with time running out, 22-20.Leach went to the line and served an ace. Ambrose won a tip battle  and the Ram comeback from down 8 was complete, 22-22. Leach served again and Koonce swung for the kill and the 23-22 Ram lead. Their first lead since 2-1.

Leach served another ace to bring match point. A service error gave Okaw one last chance, down 24-23. Okaw served, Leach set for Koonce and she delivered a sizzling kill through the Okaw defense for match point, 25-23.

8th

Moulton def. Okaw Valley, 25-8, 25-23

Ram stats: Kelcie Darnell 14 points, 5 aces; Courtney Williams 8 points, 4 aces, 7 assists, 2 digs; Isabel Leach 8 points, 1 ace, 3 assists, 2 kills; Autum Snyder 7 points, 1 ace; Quincy Beyers 6 points, 2 kills; Hannah Koonce 5 aces, 1 block, 2 digs; Elly Oldham 1 point, 4 digs; Blair Johnston 2 points, 3 digs; Claudia Watson 2 points, 1 assist, 1 kill; Kaylee Davis 2 points, 1 ace, 1 kill; Ryann Ambrose 2 kills, 1 block.