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Marquette Academy seventh graders are IESA State Tournament runners-up

March 14, 2026 at 6:12 pm CDT

The Marquette Academy seventh-grade girls volleyball team over the weekend scored a runner-up finish at the IESA Class 7-1A State Tournament held at Clinton Junior High School. Marquette's 7s scored two wins at IESA State – 25-23, 25-20 over Peoria St. Jude and 25-6, 25-10 over Cissna Park – to advance to Saturday's state championship match. There, Marquette lost a three-match thriller 19-25, 25-22, 25-19 to Hartsburg-Emden to finish second in 7-1A and with a 26-2 record for the season. The team includes (left to right): in front – Hannah Skelly, Clara Blood and Kooper Rick; in back - Coach Mindy McConnaughhay, Daniela Melendez, Leah Michelini, Cashylon Woodin, Alivia Andreoni, Parker Fuchs and Jordan Rix. — The Marquette Academy seventh grade girls volleyball team over the weekend scored a runner-up finish at the IESA Class 7-1A State Tournament at Clinton Junior High School. Marquette’s 7s scored two wins at IESA State – 25-23, 25-20 over Peoria St. Jude and 25-6, 25-10 over Cissna Park – to advance to Saturday’s state championship match. There, Marquette lost a three-match thriller 19-25, 25-22, 25-19 to Hartsburg-Emden to finish second in 7-1A with a 26-2 record for the season. The team includes (front row from left) Hannah Skelly, Clara Blood and Kooper Rick, and (back row from left) coach Mindy McConnaughhay, Daniela Melendez, Leah Michelini, Cashylon Woodin, Alivia Andreoni, Parker Fuchs and Jordan Rix. (Provided by Marquette Academy)

The Marquette Academy seventh grade girls volleyball team over the weekend scored a runner-up finish at the IESA Class 7-1A State Tournament at Clinton Junior High School. Marquette’s 7s scored two wins at IESA State – 25-23, 25-20 over Peoria St. Jude and 25-6, 25-10 over Cissna Park – to advance to Saturday’s state championship match. There, Marquette lost a three-match thriller 19-25, 25-22, 25-19 to Hartsburg-Emden to finish second in 7-1A with a 26-2 record for the season. The team includes (front row from left) Hannah Skelly, Clara Blood and Kooper Rick, and (back row from left) coach Mindy McConnaughhay, Daniela Melendez, Leah Michelini, Cashylon Woodin, Alivia Andreoni, Parker Fuchs and Jordan Rix.

J.T. Pedelty

J.T. is a graduate of Streator High School, Illinois Valley Community College and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale who is some 27 years into an award-winning sports journalism career and serves as a regional sports editor for Shaw Local Media and Friday Night Drive.