Girls volleyball: Favorites prevail, setting up stacked St. Charles North sectional

The stage is set for one of the best girls volleyball sectionals in the state.

Top seeds Benet, Glenbard West, Metea Valley and Wheaton Warrenville South all took care of business Thursday night, winning regional championships to advance to Monday's Class 4A sectional semifinals at St. Charles North.

Benet d. Naperville North:

The top-seeded Redwings (35-2) won their 16th straight regional title, beating the No. 7 seed Huskies (20-16) 25-17, 25-12 to win their own regional. Benet will face WW South (23-13) in Monday's semifinals.

Glenbard West d. Naperville Central:

The second-seeded Hilltoppers (34-3) rolled to the title at Naperville Central, beating the host Redhawks 25-22, 25-18. GW will play No. 3 seed Metea Valley Monday at SCN. Naperville Central finished the season 19-16.

Metea d. St. Charles North:

Third-seeded Metea Valley (28-8) won its own regional, beating the North Stars (23-14) 26-24, 25-13. The Mustangs will take on No. 2 Glenbard West on Monday.

CLASS 4A

Willowbrook d. Nazareth:

The second-seeded Warriors ran their record to 36-1 with a 25-13, 25-12 win over Nazareth (13-23). Willowbrook, winner of its third straight regional, will face Lyons Township (29-7) in Monday's sectional semifinals at Hinsdale Central.

Hinsdale Central d. York:

The Red Devils (24-11) advanced to their own sectional with a 25-20, 25-22 win at Morton. Hinsdale Central will take on top-seeded Oak Park-River Forest Monday. York finished the season 25-12.

Lyons d. Downers North:

Lyons (29-7) dumped Downers Grove North 25-14, 23-25, 25-11 to advance to play Willowbrook at Hinsdale Central Monday.

OPRF d. Glenbard East:

Oak Park-River Forest (30-6) won its own regional, beating Glenbard East (21-16) 25-11, 25-16. Glenbard East was led by Sophia Sommesi (6 kills, 1 dig, 1 block), Hannah Meyer (7 assists, 2 digs), Lauren Bradley (7 digs, 2 assists), Belle McDermott (4 digs) and Stephany Sulari (1 kills, 2 blocks).

Lockport d. Neuqua Valley:

Neuqua (18-17) fell to second-seeded Lockport 25-21, 25-18 in the regional final at Lincoln-Way Central.

Warren d. Jacobs:

Jacobs (18-17) fell in 3 tough sets, 25-22, 25-27, 26-24 in the Jacobs regional final.

Hononegah d. Hampshire:

The Whip-Purs (19-17) suffered a tough 26-24, 24-26, 25-21 loss in the Hononegah regional final.

CLASS ‑3A

St. Francis d. Vernon Hills:

The defending 3A champion Spartans (29-8) rolled to their 29th straight regional title, winning 25-9, 25-18 at Ridgewood. They will face Sycamore on Monday at the St. Francis sectional.

Sycamore d. Burlington Central:

The Rockets closed out their season with a 14-25, 25-15, 25-18 loss in their own regional.

Wheaton Academy d. Elmwood Park:

Wheaton Academy (29-5) advanced to meet Glenbard South at St. Francis on Monday with a 25-22, 25-7 win.

Glenbard South d. Hinsdale South:

The Raiders outlasted the Hornets 25-18, 23-25, 25-21 to win the title at Glenbard South. They will take on Wheaton Academy on Monday at St. Francis,

Kaneland d. Montini:

The second-seeded Knights (27-10) beat host Montini 25-23, 25-20 to advance to the Lemont sectional where they will face third-seeded St. Laurence on Monday. Montini finished the season 9-26.

"This match was probably the best match we have played defensively all season," said Kaneland assistant coach Erik Vogt. "I am so proud of how hard the girls played and I am looking forward to growing as a team. Hailey Goetz and Ella Herrmann, our seniors, played a huge role this season and they will be missed. Next season will be super exciting with the majority of our team returning as well."

Woodstock d. CL South:

The top-seeded Gators (23-14) were upset by No. 4 Woodstock 25-15, 26-24 at Boylan.

CLASS 2A

IC Catholic Prep d. ACC:

ICCP showed its ready for a showdown with defending state champ Genoa with an easy 25-6, 25-8 win at the Knights' own regional. ICCP (32-3). Genoa beat Freeport Aquin in 3 sets to win the Aquin regional. Leading ICCP Thursday were Ava Falduto (9 kills, 10 digs 1 service ace, 2 assists, 2 blocks), Lucy Russ (18 assists, 4 kills, 10 digs, 1 service ace, 1 block), Delilah Hyland (4 kills, 3 blocks), Emily Carling (4 kills, 1 assist, 4 digs, 4 service aces), Jenny Fromelt (1 kill, 2 blocks) and Maura Grogan (2 kills, 3 blocks).

Aurora Central finished the season 17-20.

Timothy Christian d. Rosary:

The Trojans (27-6) advanced to Monday's Genoa-Kingston sectional with a 25-14, 25-18 win over the Royals (10-24). Timothy will play Rockford Christian in Monday's sectional semifinals.

Abby Vander Wal (7 kills, 5 aces, 5 digs), Bella Potempa (7 kills, 1 block, 5 digs), Addy Vogelzang (2 kills), Ella Rickert (3 kills, 2 blocks), Leah DeBoer (11 assists, 2 aces, 2 digs), Elizabeth Alex (6 assists, 1 aces), and Clare McQuade (1 assist, 2 aces, 2 digs) led TC on Thursday.

CLASS 1A

Harvest Christian d. Hiawatha:

The Lions advanced to their own sectional with a 25-15, 25-21 win. Harvest will face Schaumburg Christian on Monday. Alyssa Burke with 9 kills, Kenzie Weidman with 5 kills, Chace Welsh with 5 kills, and Ella Schoenberg with 17 assists led Harvest (22-9). Taylor Martin had 35 digs. As a team, the Lions had 9 aces.

Fulton d. Aurora Christian:

The Eagles (20-10-2) saw their season come to an end at Fulton, 25-21, 25-17.