The Saints opened strong with a 25-19 first-set win. Columbia responded by taking the next two sets. The runner-up finish capped a standout postseason for Central Catholic.
Central Catholic's Kampbell Niepagen pummels the ball during the Saints' Class 2A state championship game against Columbia. The junior finished the three-set affair with a team-high 12 kills, seven digs and two aces. by Alan Look Best Look Magazine
NORMAL - The Bloomington Central Catholic Saints closed out a remarkable season on the state’s biggest stage, earning a runner-up finish in the IHSA Class 2A Girls Volleyball Tournament. While the final result — a three-set loss to Columbia (25-19, 20-25, 17-25) in the championship match — may have stung in the moment, the team’s legacy is defined by the exceptional journey that led them to the state final floor in Normal.
Saints' Josie Certa passes the ball to an outside hitter during Saturday's IHSA Class 2A title game.
The Saints’ dominant postseason run showcased the best of heartland volleyball. They played as a cohesive unit, displaying skill, balance and resilience throughout the state series. In the championship match, they came out strong, taking the first set 25-19 and dictating the early pace. Though Columbia rallied, the Saints’ numbers reflected their determination. They finished with 36 kills, led by Kampbell Niepagen’s 12. Setter Josie Certa powered the offense with 32 assists, distributing the ball with the precision and chemistry built over months of work.
For Central Catholic, the season was a testament to perseverance, consistency and belief. The 2023 Saints cemented their place among the state’s elite and set a new standard for the program. They returned home with silver medals, but the pride they brought to their school and community shone brighter than any hardware.
The championship stage is more than a showcase of athletic ability. It is where communities rally, memories are made and pride is forged. This Saints team will be remembered for its grit, its unity and the joy it brought to every match.
For over 25 years, Alan Look has documented the soul of the Midwest — from Friday night lights to roaring chrome, from agricultural grit to locomotive legends. See more of more thoughts and photos from Alan Look on his blog at Best Look Magazine.
TAGS: Bloomington Central Catholic IHSA Class 2A volleyball championship recap, Columbia vs Central Catholic state title match three-set summary, Illinois high school volleyball 2A runner-up Bloomington Central Catholic, Kampbell Niepagen and Josie Certa state championship performance stats, Central Catholic Saints postseason volleyball run 2023 analysis
St. JOSEPH - Spartans' Cameron Wagner is all smiles after St. Joseph-Ogden Wyatt Wertz scores the winning nail in the Vandalia coffin in their Class 3A quarterfinal game. SJO defeated the Vandals 38-24 at home on Saturday.
Illini Prairie Conference scores
St. Joseph-Ogden 38, Vandalia 24
Unity 42, Williamsville 7
St. Joseph-Ogden 38, Vandalia 24
Unity 21, Williamsville 7
Richmond-Burton 31, Monmouth-Roseville 6
Byron 28, IC Catholic 6
CLASS 4A:
Montini 47, Coal City 0
Morris 28, Geneseo 26
Breese Central 36, Cahokia 12
Rochester 41, Sacred Heart-Griffin 35
CLASS 5A:
Belvidere North 17, Cary-Grove 10
Wheaton St. Francis 44, Chicago King 14
Providence Catholic 39, Washington 6
Oak Forest 34, Peoria 20
CLASS 6A:
Nazareth Academy 24, Lake Zurich 21
Fenwick 49, Burlington Central 21
East St. Louis 49, Simeon 0
St. Laurence 28, Dunlap 14
CLASS 7A:
Batavia 42, Glenbard North 27
Downers Grove North 28, Lincoln-Way West 10
St. Rita 56, Hersey 42
Brother Rice 42, St. Charles North 18
CLASS 8A:
Oswego 24, Maine South 21
Mt. Carmel 48, Lincoln-Way East 7
Lockport 35, Barrington 0
Fremd 34, Bolingbrook 33
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TAGS: IHSA football quarterfinal scores, Mt. Carmel beats Lincoln-Way East, St. Joseph-Ogden and Unity win in 3A, Westville season ended by ALAH, East St. Louis Flyers blank Simeon in quarterfinal battle
by Alan Look
