Richmond-Burton falls to Tri-Valley in Class 2A state semifinals

After an uncharacteristic shaky first set Friday in the Class 2A state tournament volleyball semifinals, Richmond-Burton’s Josie Franckowiak served back-to-back aces and Mia Furlan put away consecutive kills to loosen up the Rockets in the second.Richmond-Burton, whose first-set loss to Tri-Valley was its first of the playoffs, responded by claiming the second but was unable to do the same in the decisive third.

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Despite a match-high 18 kills from senior Dani Hopp, the top-seeded Rockets fell to the No. 1 Vikings 25-17, 20-25, 25-19, Friday at Illinois State’s CEFCU Arena in Normal. Richmond-Burton (38-3), playing in only its second state tournament in team history (2012, runner-up in 3A), will face Rochester (32-8) at 12:25 p.m. Saturday for third place. All four teams in Class 2A this weekend were No.

1 seeds. “I think we were a little out of character on the floor,” R-B first-year coach Eric Schulze said of the first set. “When you’re in that situation for the first time, you have to