Members of the IESA Class 8-2A volleyball state champion Saints of Corpus Christi Catholic School in Bloomington include, front row from left, Ruthie Doering, Lauren Sears, Molly Kinsella, and Aubrey Fair; back row from left, Carly Young, Josie Certa, Addison Hoeniges, Kampbell Niepagen, Avery Duff, and Madison Bradbury. Provided photo

BLOOMINGTON — Forget about your busted NCAA basketball brackets for a moment and celebrate a rare state championship sweep in girls volleyball accomplished in March by Corpus Christi Catholic School of Bloomington.

Members of the IESA Class 7-2A volleyball state champion Saints of Corpus Christi Catholic School in Bloomington include, kneeling from left, Rachel Thomas, Sophie Rogucki, Giada Birgells, Addison Whittington, Caroline Braucht, and Adeline Kiley; standing from left, head coach Stacy Niepagen, Josie Bruemmer, Ella Griffith, Taylor Cook, Kampbell Niepagen, Lily Wait, Kate Allen, Kendall Fair, and assistant coach Kathy Groves. Provided photo

On Saturday, March 12, the Saints’ seventh grade team won the Illinois Elementary School Association Class 7-2A girls volleyball state championship with a 25-22, 25-19 win over Nokomis Junior High to complete a 26-2 season. The state finals were hosted by Pawnee Junior High School.

One week later, in IESA Class 8-2A state finals hosted by Auburn High School, Corpus Christi’s eighth grade team took home the title trophy with a decisive 25-10, 25-12 victory over Albion to complete a 27-1 season.

Also enjoying very successful seasons were three Catholic schools of the Diocese of Peoria that finished in the top four in the Class 7-1A girls state tournament. St. Mary in Pontiac took second, falling to host Augusta Southeastern in the title match, while Visitation Kewanee defeated Marquette Academy of Ottawa in the third place contest.