NORMAL — Breese Central rallied after dropping the opening set to defeat Rochester 21-25, 25-19, 25-15 on Friday, Nov. 13, earning a spot in the IHSA Class 2A girls volleyball state championship match at Normal.
Breese Central will play for the title at 1:55 p.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 14, at CEFCU Arena in Normal.
Bailey Gebke led Breese Central with 11 kills, while Madelyn Luebbers added 10 kills and 19 service receptions. Aspen Hollenkamp finished with six kills, Madi Redman recorded 19 service receptions, and Abbigail Leezer contributed four blocks.
Maddy Powell and Liv Kratochvill each had 11 kills for Rochester.
“This team is so special. I am proud of the work they have turned in,” said Breese Central coach Kristen Torre, who is in her second season guiding the team.
Gebke said Breese Central needed to play its game in the second and third sets and work together as a team.
Redman said coming back in the second set was important and that the team knew it needed to show more energy than it had in the first.
Torre credited more purposeful blocking and an adjustment to the pace of play in the second and third sets.
“We have put in such hard work all season. We have ups and downs, but just to see the determination as the season goes on is remarkable,” Torre said
