Written by Jack Hart
The Taylorville Tornadoes welcomed Pleasant Plains to town Tuesday night looking to pick up a big home victory, but the Cardinals had other plans.
Pleasant Plains improved to 6-1 on the season with the sweep, while Taylorville fell to 1-2.
The opening set was an even battle from the start, with Taylorville’s Ella Bertelsen and Nora Thomas each coming up with kills while Molly Smith helped keep the offense moving with several assists. The teams battled to a 12-12 tie before Pleasant Plains began to create separation.
The Cardinals’ blocking proved to be the difference late in the set, as they consistently shut down Taylorville’s attack and pulled away for a 25-21 first-set victory.
The second set belonged to Pleasant Plains.
The Cardinals continued to control the net, combining strong blocking with timely kills to build momentum. Emma Sabatka was all over the court throughout the night, making an impact on both sides of the ball while helping showcase just how much depth Pleasant Plains has throughout its roster.
Pleasant Plains closed out the second set 25-21, completing the sweep over the Tornadoes.
After the match, ILSportsWire caught up with Sabatka to talk about the Cardinals’ strong road victory.
Sabatka called the win a great way to come off a long weekend, saying the victory helped bring energy back to the team.
That energy was evident throughout the match, particularly at the net.
“We are such a good, well-rounded team,” Sabatka said. “Even if one person is having a bad night, we have a good, deep bench that can step up and come in and do amazing work.”
That depth could be a major factor for Pleasant Plains as the 2026 season continues. The Cardinals showed that they can get contributions from multiple players while maintaining their level of play.
Sabatka also emphasized the importance of defense, especially with Pleasant Plains consistently putting pressure on Taylorville with its blocking.
“I think it’s just as important as offense,” Sabatka said. “They can’t score if they can’t get it down, so I think defense sometimes wins games more than offense.”
Playing on the road in a competitive atmosphere can bring its own challenges, but Sabatka said the Cardinals focus on creating energy and celebrating the little moments.
“Having the energy up and just getting really excited over those little points really boosts us and kind of gets your nerves away,” she said.
With the sweep now behind them, Pleasant Plains will turn its attention to a challenging weekend at the Edwardsville Tournament, where Sabatka expects the Cardinals to face some tough competition.
For Pleasant Plains, Tuesday night was another strong statement from a team with plenty of expectations — and plenty of players capable of stepping up when their number is called.
The Cardinals leave Taylorville 6-1, while the Tornadoes move to 1-2 as both teams look ahead to their next challenges.
