JOHN CURTIS - Daily Union Sports Editor
The Lady Timberwolves won the Valley Girls battle in the first round of the Mt. Pulaski 7A Volleyball Regional. Okaw Valley beat Sangamon Valley on Monday night, 25-21, 25-10.
The T'Wolves (#2-seed) held off a challenge by #7-seed Illiopolis Sangamon Valley in game one, 25-21. The T'Wolves then took no prisoners in game two, squashing the Storm by 15 points, 25-10.
Okaw Valley was riding high after they knocked off Windsor (16-5) in a 3-game marathon in their season finale on Thursday, 14-25, 25-22, 25-21. They were facing a determined 7th seed after a long weekend, but they weathered the Storm's best shot. then buried them.
"The team really came together in the second game," said Okaw 7th coach Ruth-Anne Yang. "They were finally warmed up in the second game to play together and communicate with each other. We hope to go far in regionals. We know the girls are pumped."
There was a balanced attack at the line for Okaw. Caity Ohm and Bethany Seiber led at the line with six points each, followed by Amy Monroe with five points and Amy Orris and Blair Monroe with four points. There was also a balanced attack at the net. They had ten kills as a team. Three player had two kills, each. Savannah Birch led at the net with two kills and the only block, while Amy Monroe and Seiber also had two kills.
Amy Monroe dished out a team-high three assists and Amy Orris got down for a team-high three digs.
Okaw Valley advanced to the semifinal round on Tuesday to play Mt. Pulaski (#6-seed) at 7 p.m. Mt. Pulaski, the host team, upset Decatur Lutheran (#3 seed), 25-9, 25-16, on Monday. If Okaw wins they will play in the regional final against the winner of Johns Hill(#1-seed)/Cerro Gordo (#4 seed). Cerro Gordo defeated Our Lady of Lourdes (#5 seed), 25-20, 25-20.
Mt. Pulaski 2A Regional
Okaw Valley def. Sangamon Valley, 25-21. 25-10
Okaw stats: Caity Ohm 6 points, 1 dig; Bethany Seiber 6 points, 2 kills; Amy Monroe 5 points, 2 kills, 3 assists; Savannah Birch 2 kills, 1 block; Amy Orris 4 points, 1 kill, 3 digs; Blair Monroe 4 points, 1 kill; Abby Vanderburgh 3 points; Catherine Dwyer 1 kill; Maureen Blakey 1 kill.
