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Win streak for the Deer Creek-Mackinaw volleyball team until Saturday. The Chiefs held Class 2A’s string of victories before losing to Olympia 25-19, 25-22 in the Central Illinois Traveling Tournament at Lewistown. Coincidentally, Dee-Mack lost to Oly at the same tourney before going on to win the 2014 2A state championship.
Full M-I volley slate
The Mid-Illini Conference opened its 34th volleyball season on Tuesday night. Limestone and Morton are the defending co-champs, while Metamora and Dunlap tied for third last season. The co-champs meet for the first time at 7 p.m. Thursday in Morton.
EP’s Graves to Butler
East Peoria junior Alyssa Graves has given a verbal commitment to play softball for Butler. The pitcher announced on Friday via Twitter she was “excited to continue my education and softball career at Butler University.”
As a sophomore, the lefty went 22-3 with 218 strikeouts and a 1.34 ERA in 167 innings. She also hit .360 with six homers and 23 RBIs for East Peoria, which went 24-4 and won the M-I.
Graves chose Butler over Bradley, according to sources.
Dunlap wins in rain
The Dunlap boys golf team won the Tournament of Champions in the pouring rain at Pontiac Elks Country Club on Tuesday.
The Eagles finished with a 153 on the par-36 front nine, ahead of Notre Dame (164), Pontiac (165) and El Paso-Gridley (169).
Gabe Sowards finished in first place and led Dunlap with a 34.
Dunlap’s Ethan Uken and Trevor Hickey both shot a 39 to finish in a tie for second place with Miguel Montelongo of Notre Dame.
Notre Dame’s Colin Evers and Drew Cassidy tied for 7th with 41.
Texas case update
Two players from John Jay high school are accused of intentionally ramming into a referee during a football game against Marble Falls in San Antonio last Friday.
Both players, who’s names weren’t released, said that the referee used racial slurs toward them, school district officials said.
The district has placed an assistant coach on paid leave while it investigates allegations that he suggested there should be retaliation against the referee for missed calls, Northside Independent School District Superintendent Brian T. Woods said on Tuesday.
“The incident is shameful and in no way reflects who Northside ISD and Jay High School are,” Woods said.
Tuesday’s highlights
VOLLEYBALL: Limestone opened up the Mid-Illini conference with a 25-12, 26-24 victory over East Peoria. Meghan Thomson racked up 23 assists and three blocks for the host Rockets (7-0, 1-0) in Bartonville. CJ Buzzell had four kills and one block to lead EP(1-6, 0-1). … Pekin went three sets to win at Dunlap 17-25, 25-17, 25-13 in a Mid-Illini battle. Hannah Thompson (17 kills), Haley Peterson (20 assists) and Maddy Cash (13 blocks) led the Dragons (5-2, 1-0). Erika Armstrong (9 kills) and Megan Finerty (26 assists) led the Eagles (2-4, 0-1).
BOYS SOCCER: Bereket Lehman scored four goals to lead host Morton to a 9-0 Mid-Illini conference win over Limestone (0-4-3, 0-1). Lehman scored two goals in each half for the Potters (2-2, 2-0). “It was a great team effort. Good team soccer.” Morton coach Tory DeLong said.
Star of the Day
Trey Tussey, Metamora golf: The senior posted a 3-under 32 at Metamora Fields as the Redbirds defeated Limestone 162-191.
Check this out
Notre Dame vs. Morton, girls tennis, 4 p.m.: ND will look to No. 1 singles player Dara Genovese to carry the Irish, while Morton is coming off last week’s key 5-4 victory over M-I rival Dunlap. This nonconference dual meet will be played at Glen Oak Park.