The Annawan Bravettes outlasted Monmouth (United) Monday night in the Class 1A Princeville Sectional semifinals and will now play Illini Bluffs Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the sectional championship match. 

Annawan defeated United in three sets, 25-16, 19-25, 25-22 and is now 28-6 on the season. With the win, the Bravettes set a new school record for most wins in a season, beating the record of 27 that was set last year.

In game one action, Annawan took an early 5-1 lead and never looked back. The only lead United had was at 1-0. They came within one after an ace by Cameron Anderson at 9-8, but that was as close as they’d get. 

United senior Callie Mason had three kills leading up to that 9-8 score. Annawan senior standout Kaylee Celus then went to work and had a block and three consecutive kills helping Annawan extend their lead, 16-11. 

Down the stretch, senior Olivia Goodley had a kill and sophomore power hitter Tyra Jones put away two en route to the 25-16 Annawan win. 

Early in the second match there were seven ties, the final one being 8-8. Juniors Katie Flynn and Ava Anderson of United had two kills leading up to that tie, while Celus added two more for Annawan. Goodley and senior Elaina Manuel also had one kill each for the Bravettes. 

United then scored four consecutive points to prompt the first timeout by Annawan with the Bravettes down 13-8. 

Jones then had two more kills for Annawan, but a kill by Katie Flynn and an ace by Taylor Turnquist had Annawan Coach Gina Peterson calling a second timeout at 20-13. 

The Bravettes regrouped and went on to score four straight points (kills by Jones and Clara Bella VanOpdorp, an ace by Goodley and a United hitting error), but United still held a 21-17 lead.

Celus had another kill, but Reece Bertelsen had a tip and a kill for the final points of the second set for United, 25-19. 

The third and final game was close throughout, but Celus came out on fire with four early kills to give Annawan an early 6-3 advantage. 

Jones picked up where Celus left off and had three kills and Celus added another for a 10-8 Bravettes lead. United’s Ava Anderson returned the favor and added three kills of her own to knot the score at 12-all. 

United then committed a series of errors, which was followed by a big block by the tandem of Goodley and VanOpdorp to prompt a United timeout with Annawan leading 17-14. 

Still fighting, Ava Anderson put down a kill and Cameron Anderson had a tip to tie the score at 20. Celus then added two more kills and teamed up with Hannah Heitzler for a block for the 23-21 go ahead. 

Ultimately, it was Celus serving the match-winning ace and sealing the Sweet 16 win for the Bravettes.