TREMONT, Ill. – For the first time in its history, Tremont High School’s girls’ volleyball team will play on the big stage.
The Turks booked their spot in the IHSA Class 1A State Semifinals on Monday night after a three-set win over Hartsburg-Emden in the Concord Triopia Supersectional.
They will take on Cissna Park in the second 1A semifinal Friday morning at 10:30 at CEFCU Arena in Normal. The other semifinal, taking place at 9:00 A.M., will be between Stockton and Norris City-Omaha-Enfield.
Head Coach Tiffany Klaus says the community is behind the team.
“They’re so excited to come and we’re taking a fan bus to the games,” Klaus said. “I’ve had so many community members reach out and say ‘We can’t wait to come and cheer on Tremont.’ And I feel like the whole town has been nothing but excited for us.”
Tremont’s record stands out amongst their fellow Final Four teams. The Turks enter Friday’s match with a 23-17 record, while the other three schools have a combined 8 losses between them. Klaus says a tough schedule and increased competition in the Heart of Illinois Conference factored into that.
But Klaus says the team’s run to Normal is a bit of a Cinderella because of their record.
“I said ‘I know that you guys can do this’, we have the talent, we have the fire, we have the personalities that all fit together that can get us there,” Klaus said.
Klaus says everyone on the team plays their roles well, and have equal importance. But she pointed out Sophomore Middle Blocker Nora Parsons and Senior Middle Blocker Aubrey Hurckes as some of the team’s hard hitting top athletic performers.
For this weekend’s matches, Klaus says the keys to winning the state title includes shutting out outside noise during the match and taking the match one play at a time.
