By Tom Reck
WEST TERRE HAUTE — Sullivan and West Vigo volleyball teams defeated Western Indiana Conference rivals Saturday afternoon to advance to the championship game of the Class 3A sectional at West Vigo.
Both teams won in three games in defeating teams they had beaten in the regular season.
Sullivan bested South Vermillion 25-14, 25-13, 25-12. West Vigo defeated Edgewood 25-19, 28-26, 25-15.
South Vermillion trailed favored Sullivan 14-13 before the Arrows used a 9-0 run to win the first game. The Arrows had a 20-8 lead in the second game following a 5-0 spurt and were up 16-3 after scoring five unanswered points in the third game against South Vermillion with no seniors on the roster.
West Vigo had beaten Edgewood in five games when the teams met earlier and the Mustangs nearly rallied to win the second game in the sectional after the Vikings led most of the way in winning the first game.
West Vigo took a 14-6 lead in the second game but the Mustangs came back to lead 22-21 and 25-24 but the Vikings then came back to win and had little trouble in the third game.
"That was a true test of our team," West Vigo coach Cherish Easton said of the second game.
South Vermillion 14 13 12
Sullivan 25 25 25
Highlights -- For Sullivan, Brekiesha Weszely had 16 points, four aces, nine digs. Jenna Lisman had nine points and 11 digs; Kelsey Lane notched four blocks and 11 kills; Rhagan Smith recorded two blocks and 17 kills and Lauren Adams had five points, one ace and 30 assists.
West Vigo 25 28 25
Edgewood 17 26 15
Highlights -- For West Vigo, Erin Barton had four aces and six kills and Jessica Coombs had four aces and 10 kills. Kaitlyn Cardinal and Leigha Cottom each had seven kills while Caitlyn Tilford had 14 assists and Kaysee Pearson had 12 assists.
Next -- West Vigo (17-12) and Sullivan (23-11) advanced to the championship game. Edgewod finished 13-20 and South Vermillion concluded an 8-23 season.
