Chester over Elverado 25-18, 23-25, 25-16
The Chester Lady Yellow Jacket volleyball team picked up their first Black Diamond Conference match  win Tuesday night against Elverado 25-18, 23-25, 25-16.
The win was Chester’s first of the season, as the team improves to 1-3.
Brittney Schroeder led  the team in kills with four, while Jordan Clendenin added two.
Shelby Long  finished with 17 assists, while Taylor Crum added 15.
Tiffany Marshall had three blocks and 14 digs in the win.
Murphysboro over Sparta 25-22, 25-13
Sparta could only come up with 11 kills during a two-set loss to Murphysboro Tuesday night.
In the first set, the Lady Bulldogs battled back from an early deficit to take a 14-12 lead, before the Lady Red Devils scored seven unanswered points to go up 19-14.  Sparta then rallied to get back into the match, eventually taking a 22-21 lead, before a missed serve and several errant passes handed set one to Murphysboro 25-22. 
In the second set, Sparta again fell behind early to the tune of 9-2 and never could play solid enough to get back in it, dropping the second set 25-13.
“I’m very disappointed in how we are playing right now,” said Sparta coach Roger Gerlach. “It is very frustrating for everyone. Just when you think one phase of the game is improving another phase takes two steps back.  You just have to make sure you’re playing with effort and things will turn around.”
Sparta passed at a season low grade and as a result could only muster 11 kills in the two sets, while having 19 hitting errors.  Jessica Robinson had three of the eight kills, while Karli Hanna and Gabby Gallois each had two. 
The loss drops Sparta’s overall record to 3-8 on the year.
Sparta hosts Chester Thursday night.
New Athens over Steeleville 25-23, 20-25, 25-20
Brooke Rees and Alex Gale combined for nine kills in a three-set loss to New Athens Tuesday night 25-23, 20-25, 25-20.
Gale also served up 12 points, with four aces, led the team with four assists and had seven digs, while Rees added six points.
Sparta over Carterville 25-11, 18-25, 25-23
The Sparta Lady Bulldogs came from behind in set three to win their conference opener against Carterville Thursday, the newest member of the River-to-River Conference.
Sparta jumped out in set one to an early 9-2 lead and cruised to the first set win 25-11. 
In the second set, however Carterville responded with its own surge offensively, while taking advantage of a sluggish passing game by the Lady Bulldogs, as they forced a deciding third set, winning set two 25-18.
In the third set, Sparta fell behind 17-9 before mounting the comeback at Fulton Gym. With the score 19-10, Michaela Crabtree brought the score back to 19-17 with seven consecutive serves ending in Sparta points. After a Carterville kill and several possession changes, Sparta still found itself down 23-21 before Jamie Woodworth served the final four points to complete the come-from-behind win 25-23.
“For it to be this early in the year this kind of match really helps to develop character,” said Sparta coach Roger Gerlach. “I’m very happy the girls never gave up, they just kept competing and got some breaks and took advantage of it.”
For the first time this year, Sparta had multiple players with six kills or more.  Jessica Robinson and Gabby Gallois led the way with 13 and eight kills respectively, while Julian Sroka and Megan Cunningham each added six kills.  Melissa Renner had 16 assists, while Crabtree went 18-for-18 with three aces from the service line.
Sparta improved to 3-4 overall with the win.
Du Quoin over Steeleville 21-11, 21-13
Du Quoin knocked off Steeleville in straight sets 21-11, 21-13 in the Marissa Volleyball Tournament last Wednesday.
Brooke Rees led the Lady Warriors with three kills and a block, while Natalie Ruebke led the team with three assists.