Chargers move on to Region 4 semis after sweep of Highland

GALESBURG — The Sandburg volleyball team easily dispatched Highland in the quarterfinals of the Region 4 Division II District B tournament Wednesday at John Lewis Gym, sweeping the Cougars 25-13, 25-14, 25-17.

With the victory, the No. 7 seed Chargers (33-10) advance to Saturday's semifinals at Madison, where they'll play the No. 2-seeded and host WolfPack (19-13) at 4 p.m. The teams met during the regular season Oct. 11 at Madison, with the WolfPack earning a three-set victory. Saturday's winner will play for the championship at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, also at Madison.

In reaching the semifinals, Sandburg hit .377 while beating 10th-seeded Highland for the third time this season in as many meetings.

Sophomore Taylor Wagner — named a first-team all-region pick earlier this week — led the way with 10 kills, three aces and a .409 hitting percentage on 22 attacks. Natalie Burden had eight kills while hitting .429 and picking up eight digs.

Madeline Mooney had 10 digs in the win, and setter Grace Vyhnanek distributed 25 assists. Olivia Falborg tallied three solo blocks, while Lauren Powell and Abigail Shaffer each had two aces for the Chargers.

Up 16-12 in the first set, the Chargers closed with nine of the final 10 points. Shaffer had a pair of aces during a 6-0 run in the second that extended Sandburg's lead to 14-6.

Ayla Cannon had a block and a kill on back-to-back points during a 5-0 run for an early 5-1 Sandburg lead in the third. A four-point run got the Cougars within 20-16 in the third, but the Chargers finished it off with four of the final five points, including consecutive blocks from Falborg.

REGION 4 DIVISON II DISTRICT B TOURNAMENT
Quarterfinals
Nov. 6 at better seed
Game 1 — No. 2 Madison def. No. 15 Bryant & Stratton 3-0
Game 2 — No. 7 Sandburg def. No. 10 Highland 3-0
Game 3 — No. 3 Moraine Valley def. No. 14 Illinois Valley 3-0
Game 4 — No. 6 Rock Valley def. No. 11 Oakton 3-0
Semifinals
Nov. 9 at Madison
Game 5 — No. 2 Madison vs. No. 7 Sandburg, 4 p.m.
Game 6 — No. 3 Moraine Valley vs. No. 6 Rock Valley, 6 p.m.
Championship
2:30 p.m. Nov. 10 at Madison 

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