“Actually, when the last point dropped in the championship game, when I hugged my assistant coach, I said that was it,” Chad Rakers said of his retirement.
Maya Witherspoon’s father, Will, is a former NFL linebacker. Her mother, Rebecca, is a former standout Division I volleyball player for the University of Georgia.
Read about the St. Louis area's top high school girls volleyball players and their accomplishments throughout the 2023 season.
Playing in their last match for the Knights, Emma Johnson and Elyse Strader led the offensive charge and Madi Winkeler helped lead a rock steady defense.
The Knights are one victory from the eighth state championship in program history.
The Knights play Rock Falls at 1:30 p.m. Friday in a Class 2A girls volleyball state semifinal at Redbird Arena in Normal.
The Bearcats fell short of winning the 16th championship in program history.
The Lancers won their eighth championship overall and finished the season with a 36-2 record.
The Red Knights used a loss in last season's state final as motivation to finish the job and win first title since 2005.
The Bearcats are seeking a state record 16th state championship and their fifth in the last seven seasons.
The Falcons fought out of a two-set hole for the first time in program history to win their third consecutive championship.
The Bearcats have adjusted all season and earned a familiar place in the state semifinals.
The Lancers are trying to defend their championship while the Vikings are shooting for their first.
The Lancers are in search of their first girls volleyball state championship since 2017.
Incarnate Word is one victory away from the 12th girls volleyball state championship in program history but first since 2005.
In search of their first girls volleyball state title, the Bears advanced to face two-time defending champ Blair Oaks.
Mascoutah (34-4) advanced to face Lincoln (34-4) in the Taylorville Super-Sectional at 6 p.m. Friday
The Knights advanced to the 27th super-sectional in program history.
The Pirates had a 19-match win streak snapped and fell in a sectional title match for the third season in a row.
Under first-year coach Keith Price, the Vikings outlasted a rival to earn their spot in the Class 5 girls volleyball state semifinals.
The Maroons advanced to their first girls volleyball sectional final since 2004.
The Vikings are in the final four for the first time since 2016
The Red Knights earned a return trip to Cape Girardeau.
The Cougars rallied from a 16-9 deficit in the second set to pull off a postseason sweep.
The Greyhounds advanced to play at Blair Oaks for a trip to the Class 3 final four.
The defending Class 5 state champion Lancers won their 16th district title in 17 seasons.
The Warriors were eight points from defeat in the fourth set before rallying for a five-set victory.
The Bears dropped the opening set before advancing into the Class 3 girls volleyball state tournament bracket.
Pattonville senior Kylie Surratt and junior Reagan Nelson have combined for more than 2,600 kills the last three girls volleyball seasons.
The Pirates are 27-3 and have high hopes of challenging for an Illinois Class 1A girls volleyball state championship.
Check out some of the best performances produced by area high school athletes.
Check out some of the best performances produced by St. Louis area high school athletes last week.
Check out some of the best performances produced by area high school athletes last week.