SPRINGFIELD — Effingham County’s volleyball season came to a disapointing close in the Elite Eight Saturday.

The Lady Rebels visited Harrison, where they fell in three straight sets to the Kennesaw school (25-8, 25-14, 25-7).

Despite the loss, the Lady Rebels put their names in the record books by being the first squad from Effingham County to reach the Elite Eight. The Hoyas, however, were too tough to conquer.

“The first threat is that they were the 6A state champions last year,” Effingham County coach Brittany Lein said. “They have been in the Elite Eight and Final Four the two years before that. So all around, we knew going into it they were going to be a solid team. We knew they had a great libero who didn't let the ball touch the floor.”

The defeat did nothing to tarnish a great year.

See the Oct. 25 edition of the Effingham Herald for more details.