Newark claims title with win over H-BR

Larson leads Norsemen with nine kills

SERENA -- Perhaps Katie Larson's new nickname should be "the monster."

The junior on Newark's girls volleyball team had a monster game, as she posted nine kills in the 26-24, 25-17 win against Little Ten Conference rival Hinckley-Big Rock in the Class 1A sectional final at Serena Thursday.

"She has been a monster for us in the postseason," Newark coach Tonya Nagel said of Larson, who had 12 kills in the sectional semifinal. "She has been really steady for us all year, but she has really come on strong. "

In the regular conference season, H-BR beat Newark twice and ended up winning the conference title at 8-0. The Norsemen finished second.

"This is really exciting because we've never done this before," Larson said of winning a sectional title. "This is really awesome."

With the win, the Norsemen not only earned their first sectional title ever, but they advanced to the South Beloit Super-Sectional Saturday. They are now 25-12 and have won 19 of their last 24 matches. Newark will play Eastland, which defeated Orion 25-8, 25-14 at Lanark Thursday.

H-BR did a solid job against Larson in the first set, as they held her to a single kill. The Royals led by as much as 9-3 and there were five ties throughout the game, but Newark managed a seven-point run late in the set. The final tie was at 24, but back-to-back points from an Abby Akre kill and Sammi Eddi ace sealed the set for the Norsemen.

Newark owned the second game. It went on a nice seven-point run early behind the serving of Miranda Schmidt. Larson managed eight kills scattered through the set, as the Norsemen never needed to go on any more than a three-point run to maintain the lead. The match ended on one of eight Miranda Michaelson's kills. Larson also finished with three aces and eight digs.

Hinckley-Big Rock ended the season 26-11 and graduates five seniors.

"We had a shot at being one of the teams in the Elite Eight," HBR coach Don Watson said. "I thought we really had a good shot at it...it was an awesome year, we just came up a little short." Girls Volleyball: Class 1A Serena Sectional