By Deren Kudeki
Gargoyle staff reporter
Posted Thursday, Oct. 12, 2006, The OG, sports

URBANA — The girls volleyball team beat conference foe DeLand-Weldon in a close match Tuesday 14-25, 30-28, 25-17.

The Senior Night victory avenges a Sept. 15 loss to the Eagles, which began a three-match conference losing streak for Uni. The win raises the Illineks' season record to 14-12-1, equaling the school record for wins set last year. The girls improve to 7-3 in the East Central Illinois Conference.

Last year's team finished 14-14. With two regular-season contests and at least one regional match left, the 2006 Illineks have a chance to record the school's first-ever winning season in volleyball.

In Tuesday's match, senior Mandy Grill led the team with seven kills, followed by junior Karen Woodley with five. Junior Ruthie Welch recorded 22 assists, and sophomore Rachel Skoza had three blocks.

Sophomore Annie Machesky led the way with 19 digs, followed by Welch with 16, junior Jamie Weiser with 14, and Grill with 12. Woodley contributed four aces, and Grill added three.

The varsity will play Decatur Lutheran Tuesday in an away game. On Saturday the JV team will travel to Oakwood for a tournament.

VARSITY RECORD: 14-12-1 overall, 7-3 ECIC
(Home matches in bold)
Aug. 31: Oakwood, L 11-25, 23-25
Sept. 2: Atwood-Hammond (at DeLand-Weldon Eagle Classic), L 23-25, 25-18, 9-15
Sept. 2: LeRoy (at DeLand-Weldon Eagle Classic), W 25-13, 22-25, 15-10
Sept. 2: South Fork (at DeLand-Weldon Eagle Classic), L 25-8, 16-25, 8-15
Sept. 2: Rockford Keith (at DeLand-Weldon Eagle Classic), L 9-25, 17-25
Sept. 2: Lovington (at DeLand-Weldon Eagle Classic), L 20-25, 9-25
Sept. 5: Buckley Christ Lutheran,* W 25-12, 25-22
Sept. 8: Decatur Christian,* W 25-5, 25-23
Sept. 9: Westville (at Westville Invitational), L 25-17, 10-25, 11-25
Sept. 9: Georgetown-Ridge Farm (at Westville Invitational), W 25-14, 25-15
Sept. 9: Heritage (at Westville Invitational), L 23-25, 21-25
Sept. 9: Salt Fork (at Westville Invitational), L 25-10, 21-25, 25-27
Sept. 11: St. Thomas More, L 25-16, 17-25, 9-25
Sept. 12: at Normal Calvary Baptist,* W 25-20, 21-25, 25-23
Sept. 14: Fisher, W 25-23, 25-22

Sept. 15: at DeLand-Weldon,* L 25-17, 20-25, 22-25
Sept. 18: Normal Calvary Baptist,* L 24-26, 25-15, 23-25
Sept. 22: Decatur Lutheran,* L 16-25, 13-25
Sept. 26: Judah Christian,* W 25-16, 25-11
Sept. 29: at Buckley Christ Lutheran,* W 25-17, 25-17
Oct. 3: at Decatur Christian,* W 23-25, 25-23, 25-18
Oct. 7: Buckley Christ Lutheran* * (at Crusader Invitational), T 22-25, 25-12
Oct. 7: Judah Christian (at Crusader Invitational), W 25-9, 25-17
Oct. 7: Cornerstone Christian Academy (at Crusader Invitational), W 25-12, 25-18
Oct. 7: Cornerstone Christian Academy (at Crusader Invitational), W 25-4, 25-20
Oct. 7: Buckley Christ Lutheran* * (at Crusader Invitational), W 25-9, 25-14
Oct. 10: DeLand-Weldon,* W 14-25, 30-28, 25-17
*East Central Illinois Conference opponent
* *ECIC opponent, but match doesn't count in conference standings