The Churubusco High School volleyball team prevailed over Fremont Thursday in NECC Sectional tourney action, beating them 25-16, 25-8 and 25-13.

Alexis Bankson had a tremendous showing with 22 assists, 5 aces and 6 digs.  Defensive specialist Danielle Hartmann came through with 16 digs, while sophomores Ashlie Shelton and Brianne Burkhart had four digs each.

CHS volleyball managers Karissa LaBenz and Alysa Holloway.

Power hitter Kayla Mathewson ranked highest in number of kills with 9. Jessica Arrowsmith, a senior who has signed on to play collegiate volleyball at St. Francis next fall, had 5 kills and 3 solos, junior Taylor Amber had 5 kills and sophomore middle hitter Richelle Ranney ended the game with 8 kills.

The varsity record to date is 18-14 and 6-4 in the conference. The team is coached by Mark Bankson.

Watch this Web site for more NECC sectional updates as they become available.

J. Arrowsmith

A. Bankson

D. Hartmann

T. Amber

R. Ranney

K. Mathewson

Team photo: In front, from left, Brianne Burkhart, Anistassia Jackson, Danielle Hartmann, Alexis Bankson, Ashlie Shelton; Back: Kasey Miller, Kayla Mathewson, Hannah Dodson, Jessica Arrowsmith, Taylor Amber, Shannon Teague, Richelle Ranney, Meagan Zolman and Coach Mark Bankson.

The NECC volleyball tourney championship eluded the Busco girls this year, but they still acquitted themselves quite well, going 2-2 against conference foes.

In the first match, Busco outlasted West Noble 25-16, 23-25 and 15-8.

Alexis Bankson was outstanding with 29 assists, 8 service aces, 7 digs and even threw in 2 kills for good measure.

Richelle Ranney was equally impressive with 14 kills on only 21 attempts to go along with her 5 digs and 3 solo blocks.

In the second match, Busco ran into a buzz saw in Fairfield,

A. Bankson

They got back on track, besting Eastside, 25-16, 25-13.

Jessica Arrowsmith had 7 kills and 3 solo blocks and Taylor Amber helped out with 6 kills and a solo block.

T. Amber

The tourney ended for the Eagles in a heartbreaker, losing to Prairie Heights, 26-24, 23-25 and 7-15.

Be sure and support the Eagles at the Sectional at Garrett High School Thursday, Oct. 23. The girls will play the winner of the Central Noble vs Garrett match at 6 p.m. if they get by their first round opponent, Fremont. Busco will play immediately following the Central Noble/Garrett match. Sectionals will continue Saturday.

R. Ranney

J. Arrowsmith

Team photo: In front, from left, Brianne Burkhart, Anistassia Jackson, Danielle Hartmann, Alexis Bankson, Ashlie Shelton; Back: Kasey Miller, Kayla Mathewson, Hannah Dodson, Jessica Arrowsmith, Taylor Amber, Shannon Teague, Richelle Ranney, Meagan Zolman and Coach Mark Bankson.

The Churubusco Eagles varsity volleyball team fell short this week losing to Heritage Monday, 12-25, 18-25 and 21-25 and to Carroll Tuesday, 27-29, 13-25 and 19-25.

At Monday’s game against Heritage, Jessica Arrowsmith had 10 kills and Taylor Amber had 5. Alexis Bankson had 19 assists. Danielle Hartmann had 21 digs with Anistassia Jackson trailing her with 11.

The junior varsity team won one set, 25-13, but finished with a score of  22-25 and 9-15 on the other two sets.

The freshman team won two of three sets against Heritage, 25-23, 18-25 and 15-14.

In Tuesday’s action against the Carroll Chargers, Kayla Mathewson had 7 kills and 4 digs. Bankson had 22 assists, Hartmann had 20 digs and Richelle Ranney had 6 kills and 2 solos.

Ending scores for the junior varsity team were 17-25 and 12-25. The freshman team won one of three sets, 10-25, 25-23 and 2-15.

K. Mathewson

R. Ranney

A. Jackson

D. Hartmann

J. Arrowsmith

A. Bankson