DECATUR — The Illineks ran into an undefeated Decatur Lutheran School Association team tonight led by Morganne Criswell, a 6-foot freshman middle hitter who dominated front-line play despite Uni's best efforts.

The Lady Lions, now 14-0, won the match in two games: 25-7, 25-8. With Criswell controlling most of what came her way, none of the Illineks managed more than 1 kill on the night.

"That was the best I've ever seen them," coach Amanda Palla said of host LSA. "That middle they have [Criswell], who's only a freshman, she'll go D-1 [NCAA Division I]. She's amazing already."

Despite the lopsided scores, Palla had good things to say about her team.

"I told the girls that I thought we played really well," she said. "I know the score doesn't show it. But they didn't give up. There were a lot of long rallies. We had some blocks; we had some block touches. It's just a totally different ballgame playing against a team that really hits and that really does everything correctly. It's a whole different feeling. So I think they did a great job."

In the first game the Illineks kept LSA's lead to single digits until the Lady Lions went ahead 16-6. LSA then outscored Uni 9-1 the rest of the way.

In the second game Uni tied the contest 2-2 but could never get the lead. In fact, the Illineks never led in either game.

On the night, senior setter Ruthie Welch recorded 3 assists for the visitors. Senior middle hitter Karen Woodley had 1 block. Senior libero Jamie Weiser led the team with 10 digs, followed by Welch with 5. Welch and senior outside hitter Sarah Pfander each scored 1 ace.

Palla said the LSA contest gave her team a chance to work on skills that rarely get used in other matches.

"The girls never get to practice blocking, real blocking," she said. "Most of the people we play, their hits are kind of loopy and they don't have their timing right, so it's nice for them to experience what it's like to put up a real block, to learn the timing for that."

Uni is now 8-9 overall, 3-2 in the East Central Illinois Conference.

As for LSA, another ECIC title seems inevitable. But the impressive thing about the Lady Lions this year is how they have handled their nonconference opponents. Last season, despite finishing undefeated in the ECIC, they found the going much rougher when playing outside the conference.

But this year they've defeated all comers, and it's not hard to tell who has made the difference. Two weeks ago, Criswell had 15 kills against defending champ Pana to lead LSA to the Shelbyville Tournament title. A year ago LSA placed fourth in that tourney against the same opponents.

Until tonight, Uni's hardest match had been against St. Thomas More, the favorite in the Sangamon Valley Conference. When asked to compare LSA with the Sabers, Palla said: "That's actually a tough one. … I would like to see that match. I would put them [LSA] in the same league [as STM]."

Uni's next opponent will be crosstown rival Judah Christian. The Tribe will host the conference match Tuesday.

MORE PHOTOS: UNI AT DECATUR LUTHERAN SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

LSA's Morganne Criswell blocks junior Rachel Skoza. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

THE SEASON SO FAR

2007 GIRLS VOLLEYBALL VARSITY RECORD: 8-9 overall, 3-2 East Central Illinois Conference
(home matches listed in bold)

Aug. 30: at Oakwood, L 18-25, 16-25

• Story: Uni drops season opener
• Kills: Karen Woodley 2, Sarah Pfander 2
• Assists: Ruth Welch 3, Sheri Grill 2
• Blocks: Rachel Skoza 2, Chelsea Freeland 1, Woodley 1
• Digs: Jamie Weiser 2, Annie Machesky 2, Welch 2, Pfander 2
• Aces: Weiser 2, Claire Johnson 1, Freeland 1, Pfander 1
• JV match: Uni def. Oakwood in three games: 25-17, 22-25, 25-13 (JV record: 1-0)

Sept. 1: at DeLand-Weldon Eagle Classic, 2 wins, 3 losses (4th place in 8-team tournament)

• Story: Illineks take fourth place at Eagle Classic tourney
• Match 1: vs. Atwood-Hammond, W 25-21, 25-20
• Match 2: vs. Kincaid South Fork, W 25-14, 25-19
• Match 3: vs. Morrisonville, L 11-25, 17-25
• Match 4: vs. Bement, L 23-25, 16-25
• Match 5: vs. Morrisonville, L 21-25, 23-25
• Kills (Uni leaders for tournament): Rachel Skoza 23, Sarah Pfander 15, Karen Woodley 14, Ruth Welch 13
• Assists (Uni leaders for tournament): Welch 41, Sheri Grill 16, Claire Johnson 7
• Blocks (Uni leaders for tournament): Skoza 8, Woodley 5
• Digs (Uni leaders for tournament): Jamie Weiser 27, Michelle Wong 16, Annie Machesky 13, Pfander 9, Welch 7, Chelsea Freeland 5
• Aces (Uni leaders for tournament): Machesky 8, Johnson 5, Welch 3

Sept. 4: at Buckley Christ Lutheran, W 16-25, 25-19, 25-10

• Story: Conference play opens with Uni win
• Kills: Rachel Skoza 7, Sarah Pfander 5, Karen Woodley 4
• Assists: Ruthie Welch 11, Sheri Grill 2
• Blocks: Skoza 3, Woodley 1
• Digs: Annie Machesky 7, Welch 5, Jamie Weiser 5
• Aces: Welch 7, Claire Johnson 3, Weiser 2

Sept. 7: at Decatur Christian, W 25-21, 25-14

• Story: Uni wins again in conference play
• Kills: Rachel Skoza 5, Karen Woodley 5
• Assists: Ruthie Welch 7, Claire Johnson 4, Sheri Grill 1
• Blocks: Skoza 1, Woodley 1
• Digs: Jamie Weiser 6, Annie Machesky 5, Welch 5, Sarah Pfander 3
• Aces: Johnson 6, Welch 3, Weiser 1, Pfander 1
• Junior varsity match: W 25-11, 25-16 (JV record: 2-0 overall, 1-0 ECIC)

Sept. 8: at Westville Invitational, 3 wins, 1 loss (2nd place in 5-team tournament)

• Story: Uni meets challenge, places second in tournament
• Match 1: vs. Westville, W 25-22, 20-25, 25-18
• Match 2: vs. Georgetown-Ridge Farm, L 25-13, 18-25, 21-25
• Match 3: vs. Heritage, W 25-17, 23-25, 25-21
• Match 4: vs. Salt Fork, W 25-23, 25-20
• Kills (tournament): Rachel Skoza 21, Karen Woodley 14, Chelsea Freeland 10, Claire Johnson 10, Sarah Pfander 10, Ruthie Welch 10, Annie Machesky 6, Sheri Grill 2
• Assists (tournament): Welch 40, Grill 19, Freeland 1
• Blocks (tournament): Woodley 8, Skoza 4, Pfander 1
• Digs (tournament): Jamie Weiser 45, Pfander 32, Machesky 26, Welch 20, Michelle Wong 20, Freeland 9, Grill 9, Johnson 3, Woodley 2
• Aces (tournament): Welch 9, Machesky 5, Woodley 5, Freeland 2, Pfander 2, Weiser 2, Wong 2, Johnson 1, Skoza 1

Sept. 10: at St. Thomas More, L 10-25, 16-25

• Story: Uni ready for first home match after falling to strong St. Thomas More squad
• Kills: Karen Woodley 2, Rachel Skoza 2
• Assists: Ruthie Welch 4
• Blocks: Skoza 1, Woodley 1, Sarah Pfander 1
• Digs: Jamie Weiser 4, Michelle Wong 4, Annie Machesky 2
• Aces: Welch 2, Machesky 1
• Junior varsity match: L 19-25, 13-25 (JV record: 2-1 overall, 1-0 ECIC)

Sept. 11: vs. Normal Calvary Baptist, L 18-25, 25-13, 22-25

• Story: Home debut ends in close loss to Normal Calvary Baptist
• Kills: Rachel Skoza 9, Karen Woodley 6, Chelsea Freeland 5
• Assists: Ruthie Welch 17, Sheri Grill 7
• Blocks: Freeland 2, Skoza 1
• Digs: Annie Machesky 13, Michelle Wong 9, Jamie Weiser 3
• Aces: Welch 3, Woodley 2
• Junior varsity match: W 25-8, 25-15 (JV record: 3-1 overall, 2-0 ECIC)

Sept. 14: vs. DeLand-Weldon, W 25-18, 25-15

• Story: Uni makes quick work of DeLand-Weldon
• Kills: Rachel Skoza 7, Karen Woodley 3, Claire Johnson 2
• Assists: Ruthie Welch 8, Sheri Grill 3
• Blocks: Skoza 3, Woodley 2, Sarah Pfander 2
• Digs: Jamie Weiser 7, Michelle Wong 4, Welch 4
• Aces: Welch 3, Machesky 2, Pfander 2
• Junior varsity match: none

Sept. 17: vs. Fisher, L 22-25, 23-25

• Story: Illineks drop match to Bunnies
• Kills: Karen Woodley 5, Rachel Skoza 5
• Assists: Ruthie Welch 9, Sheri Grill 4
• Blocks: Chelsea Freeland 3, Skoza 2
• Digs: Sarah Pfander 10, Jamie Weiser 7
• Aces: Welch 1, Weiser 1, Michelle Wong 1
• Junior varsity match: L 9-25, 13-25 (JV record: 3-2 overall, 2-0 ECIC)

Sept. 21: at Decatur Lutheran, L 7-25, 8-25

• Story: see above
• Kills: several players with 1
• Assists: Ruthie Welch 3
• Blocks: Karen Woodley 1
• Digs: Jamie Weiser 10, Welch 5
• Aces: Welch 1, Sarah Pfander 1
• Junior varsity match: L 3-25, 25-22, 13-15 (JV record: 3-3 overall, 2-1 ECIC)

Next match: at Judah Christian, Sept. 25, Champaign (directions); JV match to begin at 6 p.m.