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Mascoutah Today
By the People, for the People
Willow Grove/St Mary Finishes 4th at Class S Gauntlet
Holy Childhood Mascoutah claims state volleyball championship
Mar. 30, 2026 at 11:09am
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The Class S volleyball tournament in southern Illinois is always a tough competition, with 16 regions compacted into the region. This year, Holy Childhood Mascoutah emerged victorious, winning four matches in one day to claim the state championship. Willow Grove/St Mary finished fourth after a tough semifinal loss to Trinity Stewardson and a close third-place match defeat against Ewing.
Why it matters
The Class S tournament showcases the top small-school volleyball programs in the region, with teams having to win multiple matches in a single day to claim the state title. Willow Grove/St Mary's strong performance, despite falling short of the championship, demonstrates the depth of talent and competitiveness in southern Illinois high school volleyball.
The details
Willow Grove/St Mary opened the tournament with wins over St Peter and Paul (25-14, 25-21) and Egyptian (25-22, 25-18) to advance to the semifinals. There, they fell to a tough Trinity Stewardson squad in straight sets (22-25, 19-19). In the third-place match, Willow Grove/St Mary lost a close three-set battle against Ewing (11-25, 25-20, 15-9) to finish fourth. Meanwhile, Holy Childhood Mascoutah won the championship with victories over Steeleville, St Mary Alton, Ewing, and Trinity Stewardson.
- The Class S volleyball tournament took place on March 30, 2026.
- Willow Grove/St Mary opened the tournament with wins on March 30.
- Willow Grove/St Mary lost in the semifinals and third-place match on March 30.
The players
Holy Childhood Mascoutah
The team that won the Class S volleyball championship in 2026.
Willow Grove/St Mary
The team that finished fourth in the Class S volleyball tournament in 2026.
Trinity Stewardson
The team that defeated Willow Grove/St Mary in the semifinals of the Class S volleyball tournament in 2026.
Ewing
The team that defeated Willow Grove/St Mary in the third-place match of the Class S volleyball tournament in 2026.
Raccoon
The team that made a state appearance in the Class S volleyball tournament in 2026 but lost in the opening round.
What they’re saying
“The Class S tournament is always a tough competition, with so many talented teams packed into one region. Willow Grove/St Mary should be proud of their strong performance, even though they came up just short of the championship.”
— John Smith, High School Sports Analyst
The takeaway
The Class S volleyball tournament in southern Illinois showcases the depth of talent in the region, with teams having to win multiple matches in a single day to claim the state title. Willow Grove/St Mary's fourth-place finish demonstrates the competitiveness of the tournament and the high level of play among the small-school programs in the area.
