Benton took second at the Southern Illinois River to River Conference volleyball tournament on Saturday in Herrin, dropping a close, 25-19, 25-20 match to Nashville in the title tilt.
“We right there with them,” Benton coach Tony Phelps said. “We led for most of the second game, but they had some strong, tall kids.”
Sydney Potts led the net effort, going 16 for 18 with seven kills, Lindsay Hathcoat going 14 of 15 with six kills.
“Sidney Potts might have been the best player on the floor for any team on Saturday,” Phelps said. “She had a fine effort for us all day.”
Hathcoat had 14 digs to leaad the defense, with Dymin Hayes and Molly Whaley both setting well. Hayes was 28 of 29 with nine assists, Whaley 19 of 20 with eight assists.
Benton advanced to the championship round by winning its pool earlier in the day.
The Rangerettes beat Pinckneyville 25-17, 22-25, 15-3, Massac County 25-17, 25-14 and Sparta 25-17, 25-13.
“Pinckneyville has really improved,” Phelps said. “But we really came to task in the third game.
“Sydney was really good at the net, going 23 of 24 hitting with 12 kills. That’s 50 percent, which is a beyond-real level.”
Benton had to play Anna in the semifinals. Anna had beaten Murphysboro to get to the match. The Rangerettes had no real problems in the match, winning handily 25-15, 25-18.
“That was the best match we have played all season,” Phelps said.
Potts was 24 of 26 with 10 kills and Megan Conner had a big match, going 15 of 16 with eight kills.
Sami Bybee was 20 for 21 serving.
“We had moments of greatness, like the A-J match and the third game against Pinckneyville, but we didn’t have any real time when we played poorly,” Phelps said. “And that is good.
“The girls took a lot of pride in their play all day,” he added. “We would have liked to have won, but that was our highest finish since 2006. And second place out of 12 teams is not too shabby.”
Benton (5-2) will play Carmi at home Tuesday night.
