As senior Ruthie Welch (1) looks on, junior Sheri Grill keeps the ball in play during a match against Bement on Saturday. In Uni's victory over Buckley Christ Lutheran on Tuesday, Grill had 2 assists and Welch 11. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

BUCKLEY — The Illineks began their conference season Tuesday night with a victory over host Buckley Christ Lutheran.

After dropping the first game 16-25, Uni won the match by taking the next two games 25-19, 25-10.

The victory raises Uni's record to 3-4 overall and 1-0 in the East Central Illinois Conference. The Illineks finished second in the ECIC last year with an 8-4 conference mark.

Following a good showing in Saturday's five-match Eagle Classic tourney at DeLand-Weldon, the Illineks may have entered the first game against BCL without the proper focus, according to senior setter Ruthie Welch.

"I think after that first game, everyone kind of woke up and came to play," she said. "We didn't really have to say anything or do anything; it was an automatic shift into volleyball mode. We know how we can play, and we played that way in the second and third games."

Welch continued to add to her school-record stats. She had 11 assists on the night, bringing her career total to 655. Junior setter Sheri Grill contributed 2 assists.

Junior middle hitter Rachel Skoza led the team yet again in kills and blocks, with 7 and 3 respectively. Senior outside hitter Sarah Pfander had 5 kills, while senior middle hitter Karen Woodley recorded 4 kills and 1 block.

Junior outside hitter Annie Machesky led Uni with 7 digs, followed by Welch and senior Jamie Weiser with 5 apiece.

Welch, who has been using a jump serve this season, scored a team-high 7 aces. Senior right-side player Claire Johnson added 3, followed by Weiser with 2.

After the Illineks got down to business in the second game, they were in control the rest of the way.

"It was so satisfying to look up there during the third game and see that the score was 17-2," Welch said. "Not that I enjoy blowing other people out of the water, but I think at that point we all just knew that we were playing to our full potential."

According to Pfander, coach Amanda Palla had some good advice for the team.

"One thing that Amanda said during the game was that our biggest opponent at this point is ourselves," Pfander recalled. "None of the teams we have faced have been that amazing; we lose because of our errors. She said that we have to learn how to come to play every game and not get caught in that little snag that nevitably occurs during our matches."

The Illineks will continue their road play this week when they travel to ECIC opponent Decatur Christian on Friday. The JV match will begin at 6 p.m.

Decatur Christian went 4-8 in conference action last year. For directions to the school, click here.

2007 GIRLS VOLLEYBALL VARSITY RECORD: 3-4, 1-0 East Central Illinois Conference
(home matches listed in bold)

Aug. 30: at Oakwood, L 18-25, 16-25

• Story: Uni drops season opener
• Kills: Karen Woodley 2, Sarah Pfander 2
• Assists: Ruth Welch 3, Sheri Grill 2
• Blocks: Rachel Skoza 2, Chelsea Freeland 1, Woodley 1
• Digs: Jamie Weiser 2, Annie Machesky 2, Welch 2, Pfander 2
• Aces: Weiser 2, Claire Johnson 1, Freeland 1, Pfander 1
• JV match: Uni def. Oakwood in three games: 25-17, 22-25, 25-13 (JV record: 1-0)

Sept. 1: at DeLand-Weldon Eagle Classic, 2 wins, 3 losses (4th place in 8-team tournament)

• Story: Illineks take fourth place at Eagle Classic tourney
• Match 1: vs. Atwood-Hammond, W 25-21, 25-20
• Match 2: vs. Kincaid South Fork, W 25-14, 25-19
• Match 3: vs. Morrisonville, L 11-25, 17-25
• Match 4: vs. Bement, L 23-25, 16-25
• Match 5: vs. Morrisonville, L 21-25, 23-25
• Kills (Uni leaders for tournament): Rachel Skoza 23, Sarah Pfander 15, Karen Woodley 14, Ruth Welch 13
• Assists (Uni leaders for tournament): Welch 41, Sheri Grill 16, Claire Johnson 7
• Blocks (Uni leaders for tournament): Skoza 8, Woodley 5
• Digs (Uni leaders for tournament): Jamie Weiser 27, Michelle Wong 16, Annie Machesky 13, Pfander 9, Welch 7, Chelsea Freeland 5
• Aces (Uni leaders for tournament): Machesky 8, Johnson 5, Welch 3

Sept. 4: at Buckley Christ Lutheran, W 16-25, 25-19, 25-10

• Story: see above
• Kills: Rachel Skoza 7, Sarah Pfander 5, Karen Woodley 4
• Assists: Ruthie Welch 11, Sheri Grill 2
• Blocks: Skoza 3, Woodley 1
• Digs: Annie Machesky 7, Welch 5, Jamie Weiser 5
• Aces: Welch 7, Claire Johnson 3, Weiser 2

Next match: at Decatur Christian, Sept. 7 (directions); JV match to begin at 6 p.m.