It has been a busy start to the Little Illini Conference volleyball season. A total of 16 matches were played in the first four days alone. At this early juncture, four teams are off to undefeated starts.

Paris, 14-22 last year, is already 3-0 after straight-set wins over Heritage, North Vermillion, Ind. and Charleston. Lawrenceville is 2-0, with victories over Lawrence county rival Red Hill and Altamont. Robinson is also 2-0, after defeating North Clay and South Knox, Ind. by 2-1 scores. Marshall is 1-0 after beating Chrisman, 2-0.

Robinson’s win over South Knox left coach Sydni Bailey impressed with the way her team overcame a flat start. After falling 25-11 in the first set, the Maroons “fought hard and finished Set 2 with high energy and positive momentum,” said Bailey of the 25-20 turnaround win, sparked by the swings of Grace Miller, who led the way with 12 kills.

“(Miller) had a few good swings to start our momentum in the second set and kept swinging throughout the rest of the match.”

Robinson prevailed in the deciding game, 25-23.

Bailey also highlighted the play of setters Wren Bonnell and Sicily Rawlings who “played phenomenal defense tonight racking up a combined 12 digs on the night.”

Casey-Westfield (2-1) has won two in a row since losing to Teutopolis on opening night.

Defending league champion Newton fell to rival Effingham, 2-1, on Aug. 28th. After losing the first set, 25-23, the Eagles bounced back to even the match, 26-24, before dropping the rubber game, 25-19.

Mt. Carmel, tri-champs with Newton and Robinson in 2022 and 2023, is off to an 0-2 start, but the schedule has been demanding. The Lady Aces lost to Carmi, a Class 2A super sectional team a year ago, on opening night, before falling to perennial power Edwards County on Aug. 28th.

Olney stands 0-2 after losses to Fairfield and Teutopolis.

NOTES… The LIC is 10-6 (.625) thus far against non-conference opponents.