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Illini Bluffs volleyball player voted Journal Star high school athlete of the week

adam duvall, peoria journal star
·3 min read
Illini Bluffs' Reese Cruit (4) bumps the ball against Brimfield in the third set of their volleyball match Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023 at Brimfield High School. Illini Bluffs defeated Brimfield in three sets 17-25, 25-19 and 25-18.
Illini Bluffs' Reese Cruit (4) bumps the ball against Brimfield in the third set of their volleyball match Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023 at Brimfield High School. Illini Bluffs defeated Brimfield in three sets 17-25, 25-19 and 25-18.

Reese Cruit of the Illini Bluffs volleyball team was voted as the Journal Star athlete of the week.

The senior — who earned 243 of 835 votes — came up big as Illini Bluffs (25-5-1) made its run to a Class 1A sectional title appearance. Cruit helped the Tigers beat Wethersfield, 25-14, 25-19 in the sectional semis last Monday. She then was part of an exciting 33-31 opening set loss to Annawan, which then won the second set, 25-20.

The poll closed at noon Friday. Information about the other nominees is below. If you have a nominee for the honor, email us at sports@pjstar.com or tag us on Twitter @pjstarsports. Last week, Izzy VandeSchraaf of the Metamora volleyball team was named JS athlete of the week.

Jase Harlan, Washington football

Washington linebacker Jase Harlan celebrates the Panthers' 28-7 victory over Dunlap in their Week 7 football game Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 at Dunlap High School.
Washington linebacker Jase Harlan celebrates the Panthers' 28-7 victory over Dunlap in their Week 7 football game Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 at Dunlap High School.

Harlan was part of a stout Washington defense that allowed 57 total yards and forced two turnovers in a 21-0 victory over Crete Monee in the Class 6A second round. The senior linebacker posted eight tackles and two of the Panthers' seven sacks. He along with Eli Baer and Eli Papis were a part of the linebacking crew that will look to match Chatham Glenwood (8-3) in the quarterfinals at 2 p.m. Saturday.

IHSA playoff coverage: Scores and schedule | Top performers | Takeaways | Washington defense

Cade Odell, Princeton football

The junior lineman helped Princeton to a 35-0 win over Monmouth-Roseville in last Saturday's Class 3A second-round playoff win. Odell recorded six tackles and two sacks as Princeton recorded its seventh shutout of the season. Casey Etheridge ran for 225 yards and three touchdowns as the Tigers (10-1) will make their fourth consecutive quarterfinal appearance, hosting Lombard Montini (8-3) at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Graci Junis, Morton volleyball

Morton's Graci Junis (6) spike the ball against Limestone in the first set of their volleyball match Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 in Morton. The Rockets downed the Potters in straight sets 25-23, 26-24.
Morton's Graci Junis (6) spike the ball against Limestone in the first set of their volleyball match Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 in Morton. The Rockets downed the Potters in straight sets 25-23, 26-24.

The senior outside hitter led the Potters to a 3-0 record last week, guiding Morton to the Class 3A state semifinals. Junis went for nine kills in a two-set win over LaSalle-Peru in the Galesburg Sectional semifinal last Monday, while coming up big during Wednesday's three-set sectional title victory over Metamora. She then had eight kills in Friday's Elite Eight win versus New Lenox Providence Catholic. The Potters (31-7) will now play reigning state champs Wheaton St. Francis (32-8) at 5:30 p.m. Friday in the semifinals.

Background: How the sister of an MLB pitcher became the emotional leader for Morton volleyball

Isaiah Hill, Elmwood/Brimfield boys cross country

Elmwood senior Isaiah Hill cruises to a fifth-place finish in the Class 1A boys state cross country championship Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023 at Detweiller Park in Peoria, leading the Trojans to a third-place team finish.
Elmwood senior Isaiah Hill cruises to a fifth-place finish in the Class 1A boys state cross country championship Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023 at Detweiller Park in Peoria, leading the Trojans to a third-place team finish.

Hill and the Trojans were both state medalists at Saturday's Class 1A state meet. The senior's fifth-place overall place in 14:48.95 helped give E/B a third-place team finish. His time was a personal best on the Detweiller Park course as the Trojans collected their 16th state trophy.

Kennady Anderson, Annawan/Wethersfield girls cross country

Kewanee's Kennady Anderson finishes in seventh place in the Class 1A girls state cross country championship Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023 at Detweiller Park in Peoria.
Kewanee's Kennady Anderson finishes in seventh place in the Class 1A girls state cross country championship Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023 at Detweiller Park in Peoria.

Anderson was the top Peoria-area finisher across all three classes at the state meet on Saturday. She ran the 3-mile Detweiller Park course in 17:23.53 for a seventh-place finish in Class 1A. The senior ends her career as a three-time all-stater.

'Ran with heart': Notre Dame, Elmwood trophies lead Peoria-area at IHSA cross country finals

Thatcher Hogan, Peoria Notre Dame boys soccer

Peoria Notre Dame teammates Thatcher Hogan and Kayden Hudson celebrate one of Hogan's goals against Ottawa in the first period of their Class 2A Richwoods soccer sectional Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023 at Peoria Stadium.
Peoria Notre Dame teammates Thatcher Hogan and Kayden Hudson celebrate one of Hogan's goals against Ottawa in the first period of their Class 2A Richwoods soccer sectional Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023 at Peoria Stadium.

The junior midfielder scored a pair of goals in PND's 2-0 victory over Burbank St. Laurence at the Class 2A state semifinals at Hoffman Estates. Hogan put the Irish ahead 1-0 at the 35:50 mark of the first half. He then added his second tally with 9:44 left in the match. It was his fifth goal in Hogan's last three state final matches. PND took a runner-up finish to Crystal Lake South with a 2-1 defeat on Saturday.

Ava Salverson, Dunlap girls swimming and diving

Ava Salverson of Dunlap is the 2022 Journal Star girls swimmer of the year. She leads the six-athlete all-area team.
Ava Salverson of Dunlap is the 2022 Journal Star girls swimmer of the year. She leads the six-athlete all-area team.

Salverson was a two-event state qualifier coming out of this past Saturday's sectional meet. The senior won both the 100-yard freestyle (:52.73) and 100-yard breastroke (1:06.29) at the East Moline Sectional. Dunlap (248 points) finished second as a team to Moline (284).

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Athlete of the week voting: Results for Journal Star high school AOW