Valle takes second at Jeffco, Schilli records 1000th kill

By DONN ADAMSON/Daily Journal Sports Editor

HILLSBORO - The Valle Lady Warriors put in a full day of volleyball on Saturday in the Jefferson College (Jeffco) Tournament to finally claim second place, only losing to the St. Pius Lady Lancers in the championship match, 16-25, 19-25.

The Lady Warriors made a clean sweep of pool play. First, they beat St. Pius 25-21, 25-18 behind 12 kills by Kara Schilli and 12 service points by Sara Hermann. Next, Valle defeated De Soto 25-6, 25-13 again with 12 kills by Schilli and Hermann and Candis Spraul served up nine points each.

In their third game of pool play, Valle downed Festus 25-21, 25-8. Schilli added nine more kills to her tournament total and Hannah Jokerst was top point server with 10. The 3-0 pool play set the Lady Warriors against Crystal City in the semi-finals which Valle won 25-13, 25-14.

Before Schilli could record her 14 kills in the game, she hit a milestone of 1000 kills as a varsity player, which is seldom done by a high school player. Jokerst served 12 points in the game with four going for aces.

That set up the championship match between Valle and already beaten St. Pius, but this time the Lady Lancers would prove to be a formidable foe. St. Pius corrected their game and their defense to handle the Lady Warriors pretty comfortable. Schilli was still top kill-getter with 11, but the Lady Warriors only scored seven points in the match on their own serve as a team.

Altogether, Schilli led the team in kills with 58, in blocks with 4 solos and 12 assists, and in digs with 36. Jokerst was tops with 37 service points, and Hermann was one back with 36. Kayla Schweiss made 87 assists in the five-game tournament.

Valle, 13-3, will play next at Caledonia where they will face the Valley Lady Vikings.