Newark wins championship

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SOMONAUK -- Paw Paw did their best 'Hoosiers' impersonation, but it was Newark who rolled to the championship at the Somonauk Class 1A Volleyball Regional on Thursday evening.

After beating Serena 25-21, 25-19 in the semifinals, Newark came right back to beat upstart Paw Paw 25-20, 25-21. Newark improved to 23-10 overall and will face Immaculate Conception on Thursday at the Serena Sectional. The Knights won their own regional by topping Hinckley-Big Rock in two games.

Paw Paw, who dressed only seven players, pulled a major upset in the night's first semifinal. The Bulldogs, who entered as the No. 8 seed in the sub-sectional, pulled out a thrilling 21-25, 25-16, 25-16 win over No. 2 seed Leland-Earlville. Paw Paw finished the year 11-19.

"That can happen to anybody," said Newark coach Tonya Nagel about Paw Paw's upset of Leland-Earlville.

"It's the postseason, and crazy things can happen."

Fortunately for the Norsemen, they were able to overcome a slow start to earn the win. Paw Paw scored the first three points of the title match, as Karley Nicholson had two kills and a block in the early going.

Newark battled back to take an 8-7 lead after consecutive aces by Tecya Peterson. The Norsemen never trailed again and opened up eight point leads on two occasions. The Bulldogs closed the gap to 22-18, but Samantha Akre had two kills in the late stages of the game, both assisted by Laura Johnson.

Game two was tight in the early going, but Newark gained some separation in the middle.

With the score tied 7-7, Akre blocked a Paw Paw spike attempt to put the Norsemen up 8-7. Akre had a tip that went for a kill and followed with a spike off a Johnson set to put Newark up 21-11.

The Bulldogs used a 5-0 run late in the match to close the deficit to 24-21, but a service error ended the game and gave Newark the straight set win and their second straight regional title.

Akre finished the title match with 13 kills and 3 blocks, while Johnson added 23 assists against Paw Paw.

"I couldn't have asked for better sets," said Akre.

"I was just going to the spot, and (the ball) was right there."

Haley Hester added six kills and two blocks for the Norsemen.

"The bottom line is we got the win," said Nagel.

"(Akre and Hester) were kind of a one-two punch against Paw Paw."

Now, Newark will have a week to prepare for the sectional. They will play at Serena, on the same floor where they won the Little Ten Conference Tournament three weeks ago.

The Norsemen will play in a five o'clock semifinal against Immaculate Conception. Indian Creek and Morgan Park Academy will follow in the night's second semifinal. The championship is scheduled for 7:15.

"I saw (Immaculate Conception) play last year," said Johnson. "They're going to be a tough team. I'm excited."

In their semifinal match, Akre had ten kills and Johnson 26 assists. Samantha Larson added nine kills.

Hester and Meredith Sleezer had four kills each.

Class 1A Somonauk Girls Volleyball Regional