Columbia dominates in state volleyball semifinal, sweeping Rockford Christian

Columbia swept Rockford Christian 25-18, 25-8 in the IHSA Class 2A semifinals. The win sends Columbia to Saturday’s championship match.

Photos: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Rockford Christian's Odessa Bucciferro celebrates a point for the Royal Lions during the second set of her team's match against Columbia. Bucciferro and her team lost the match to the Eagles and will play for third place on Saturday in their first-ever state appearance.

NORMAL - Columbia didn’t waste a second proving why it entered championship weekend with one of the most imposing records in Class 2A. The Eagles (38-1) swept Rockford Christian 25-18, 25-8 on Friday at CEFCU Arena, rolling into the Class 2A state title match behind a fast, polished attack that never trailed in either set.

Under the glare of television lights and in front of nearly 1,000 spectators, Rockford Christian (34-6) held its own early. The Royal Lions, making the program’s first-ever appearance in the volleyball final four, traded points with Columbia until the Eagles nudged ahead 20-18 late in the opening frame. An attack error by Madison Anspaugh opened the door, and Ella Horner took full advantage by serving out the final five points.

Photos: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

LEFT: Rockford Christian's Devon Turner and Odessa Bucciferro collide while trying to keep the ball in play. RIGHT: Columbia's Kinley Jany and Ella Horner celebrate a point for the Eagles.

Columbia’s steadiness took hold from there. The Eagles matched their 12-kill first set with another 12 in the second, but this time the separation was immediate. They opened the frame with an 11-0 surge, punctuated by strong serving and crisp transition play. Rockford Christian didn’t break through until Devon Turner put down a kill set by senior setter Julia Irvin. The Royal Lions managed just seven more points before Columbia closed out the 44-minute match.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Columbia's Claire Sandstrom passes the ball to the front row during second set action against Rockford Christian. The junior led the match with 11 kills, two digs, and one assist, advancing the Eagles to Saturday's Class 2A title match at the IHSA Girls Volleyball State Finals.

Junior outside hitter Claire Sandstrom paced the Eagles with 11 kills, two digs and an assist. Senior Kinley Jany added four kills, two aces and eight digs. Marly Mathews supplied three kills, while seniors Ava Mathewes and Maura Kohlenberger combined for four kills, with Mathewes contributing 11 assists and Kohlenberger involved in four blocks.

Rockford Christian spread its offense across four hitters. Turner finished with six kills, Anspaugh had four kills and two digs, and Allison Lynde added three. Junior Teagan Lawver chipped in two kills. Irvin supplied 11 of the team’s 14 assists, with Odessa Bucciferro recording the other three. The Royal Lions produced 12 kills in a competitive first set but were limited to only three in the second.

The semifinal marked the team’s first loss since Oct. 18, when the Royal Lions fell to Class 4A Stevenson in a three-set match at the Woodstock North Tournament. Anspaugh entered the weekend as Rockford Christian’s leading hitter with 451 kills and 56 aces, while Irvin began the tournament with 779 assists.

Columbia advances to Saturday’s championship match against Bloomington Central Catholic, which reached the final after finishing as last year’s runner-up in a tight three-set battle against Breese Mater Dei. Rockford Christian will play Port Byron Riverdale for third place.

For Columbia, the appearance marks the program’s second trip to a state final. The Eagles reached the title match in 2005, falling to Breese Central. Their only loss this season also came against Breese Central, a September meeting that Columbia now hopes proves to be the lone blemish on an otherwise remarkable run.

TAGS: Columbia Eagles IHSA Class 2A volleyball semifinal win, Rockford Christian volleyball first state final four appearance, Columbia volleyball team wins state semifinal, Columbia to play for state title, Rockford Christian to play for third at state