Darren Kinnard/River Radio Sports Central
COBDEN — NCOE and Edwards County will have to make the long trek to Cobden for a second time this week Thursday night, but neither team will mind, as they will be battling for a 1A volleyball sectional championship.
The Fighting Cardinals dispatched upset-minded Sesser-Valier/Waltonville in the first semifinal 25-8, 25-4 for head coach Jaclyn Melton’s 500th career win. The Red Devils used a pair of upsets to win the Woodlawn Regional championship last week. NCOE refused to be the third straight upset victim.
Edwards County dominated the opening game of the second semifinal against Trico, taking it 25-9. The Pioneers got off to a much better start in game two, jumping out to a 7-1 lead, but the Lions righted the ship and eventually finished off the sweep, taking game two 25-21.
NCOE and Edwards County will be a rematch as the two met late in the regular season at Edwards County’s Linda Oxby Invitational. The Fighting Cardinals won that one 25-17, 25-23. Thursday night’s winner will advance to the Trico Supersectional Monday night to face the winner of the South Central Sectional for the right to go to state.
