ST. JOSEPH — For about the first two-thirds of the opening game of Uni's Class 2A playoff contest against St. Thomas More on Thursday, it looked like the Illineks could pull off a major upset.

Seeded No. 3 in the St. Joseph regional, Uni was giving the No. 2 Sabers all they could handle, matching them point for point and eventually leading 14-12.

"We probably played the best we have all year," Illinek head coach Amanda Palla said of that opening stretch.

But the Sabers regrouped, using strong service play to gain control of the momentum. They pulled even with Uni, then dominated the rest of the game, winning 25-17.

The second and final game of the match was all St. Thomas More, as the Champaign school cruised 25-5 to seal the regional semifinal victory.

"The girls played some aggressive defense and were strong at the net in the first game," Palla commented. "We were eventually overpowered by St. Thomas More's fast-paced offense and jump serving."

The loss ended Uni's season — but what a season it was! The varsity's final tally of 20 wins and 10 losses tied the school record for victories set last year, when the Illineks went 20-11.

Moreover, the team's winning percentage of .667 was the best in Uni history, exceeding last year's mark of .645.

The Illineks' 9-3 performance in East Central Illinois Conference play tied last year's 9-3 mark for best ECIC record in school history.

On an individual level, the 2008 campaign will also go down in Uni history, with Illinek players setting three career records and two season records.

Senior Rachel Skoza led the way with records for career kills (473), career blocks (118), and season kills (249).

Each of those previous records had been set in the 1990s, making them the most venerable of Uni's volleyball landmarks.

Skoza eclipsed Elisabeth Pollock's 393 career kills (set 1996-98), Sara Medendorp's 90 career blocks (set 1996-99), and Amanda Smeltzer's 175 season kills (1996). Amanda Smeltzer, of course, is better known these days as Amanda Palla, the winningest volleyball coach in Uni history.

Also setting records this year was senior Annie Machesky, who established new marks for career digs (567) and season digs (241). Amanda Grill held the previous records in both categories: 471 career digs (set 2003-06) and 236 season digs (2006).

Three other players on the 2008 squad — seniors Sheri Grill and Jessi Sullivan and junior Michelle Wong — also made their way into the upper echelons of the Uni record book.

Grill ended her career ranked third for most assists, recording 271 from 2005 to 2008. Ruthie Welch, who graduated in June, holds the top spot with 847.

Sullivan finished third on the list for career aces with 113. Welch is first with 191.

Wong's 296 assists this year rank as the second most in a season, behind Welch's 323 in 2006. And with one year left to play, Wong is second in career assists with 316, also behind Welch's 847.

Looking ahead to next season, the team will lose five current seniors: Skoza, Machesky, Grill, Sullivan, and Jasmine Alvarado. But along with Wong, the 2009 Illineks will feature current juniors Tuli Bera, Rachel Harmon, Chumin Gao, and current freshman Jamie Blue, all of whom gained varsity experience this year.

"The only thing next year's team will lack is leadership, but that's something that can be easily developed," said Skoza. "They all should have enough experience, though."

Besides that, next year's team will have to cope with the loss of Palla as head coach. A few months pregnant already, Palla will have a new priority when volleyball season rolls around again.

"After considering the demands of being a first-time parent, I've decided that I won't be able to devote the time that is necessary to coaching volleyball next season," Palla said. "I am extremely sad to not be returning, but I will continue to support the team in any way possible."

Replacing Palla at the helm won't be easy; she leaves with a four-year record of 69-49-1. But with solid talent on the roster and a winning foundation, the chances are good that Uni volleyball will remain successful next year … and beyond.

More Regional match photos

The team gathers around head coach Amanda Palla. Gargoyle photos by David Porreca
(click to enlarge; click any photo to create your own slideshow)

The girls regroup before the second game against St. Thomas More. (click to enlarge)

Junior Tuli Bera makes a play. (click to enlarge)

Senior Rachel Skoza gets a block. (click to enlarge)

Junior Michelle Wong sends the ball over. (click to enlarge)

Bera prepares for a dig. (click to enlarge)

Senior Annie Machesky makes a save. (click to enlarge)

UNI vs. St. Thomas More at a glance

Varsity outcome: Loss (17-25, 5-25)

Varsity record: 20-10 overall, 9-3 East Central Illinois Conference

• Kills
  — Rachel Skoza 3
  — Jessi Sullivan 2
  — Rachel Harmon 2

• Blocks
  — Skoza 1

• Assists
  — Michelle Wong 4
  — Sheri Grill 3

• Digs
  — Wong 10
  — Tuli Bera 8
  — Sullivan 4
  — Annie Machesky 3
  — Skoza 2

• Service Aces
  — Skoza 1
  — Sullivan 1

JV outcome: None; JV season ended Oct. 24

JV record: 5-13 overall (includes 1-4 record at recent JV-only tournament), 4-6 ECIC

Next match: The 2008 season is over.

For complete schedule and results, visit the OG Scoreboard.

Uni Volleyball Records Set in 2008

Career Kills

• New record: Rachel Skoza (2006-08): 473
• Previous record: Elisabeth Pollock (1996-98): 393
• Other player from 2008 team in top five: Jessica Sullivan (2005-08): 287 (third all time)

Career Digs

• New record: Annie Machesky (2005-08): 567
• Previous record: Amanda Grill (2003-06): 471

Career Blocks

• New record: Rachel Skoza (2006-08): 118
• Previous record: Sara Medendorp (1996-99): 90

Season Kills

• New record: Rachel Skoza (2008): 249
• Previous record: Amanda Smeltzer (1996): 175

Season Digs

• New record: Annie Machesky (2008): 241
• Previous record: Amanda Grill (2006): 236
• Other 2008 total in top five: Michelle Wong: 176 (fifth all time)

Other Uni Records Featuring 2008 Players in Top Five

Career Assists

• 1. Ruthie Welch (2004-07): 847
• 2. Michelle Wong (2007-): 316
• 3. Sheri Grill (2005-08): 271

Career Aces

• 1. Ruthie Welch (2004-07): 191
• 3. Jessica Sullivan (2005-08): 113

Season Assists

• 1. Ruthie Welch (2006): 323
• 2. Michelle Wong (2008): 296

Season Aces

• 1. Amanda Grill (2006): 80
• 3. Rachel Skoza (2008): 67 (tied with Welch, 2007, and Annie Fehrenbacher, 2005)

Season Blocks

• 1. Veronica Zych (2002): 54
• 5. Rachel Skoza (2008): 37