The Warrensburg-Latham Cardinals protected their home court Thursday night, turning a tightly contested opening set into a two-set victory over the Monticello Sages.
Warrensburg-Latham defeated Monticello 25-23, 25-15, earning the sweep after being pushed to the finish in the opening frame.
The matchup brought together two programs familiar with one another, and Monticello made sure the Cardinals had to work for the early advantage. The Sages remained within striking distance throughout the first set, matching Warrensburg-Latham closely as neither side was able to put the set away early.
With the score remaining tight down the stretch, the Cardinals found the points they needed at the right time. Warrensburg-Latham ultimately edged Monticello 25-23, taking a 1-0 advantage in the match.
The two-point margin in the opener continued a trend of close volleyball between the programs. Their 2025 meeting also featured a 25-23 opening set, although Monticello came away with the victory in that matchup.
Thursday’s second set was a different story.
After Monticello challenged the Cardinals throughout the opener, Warrensburg-Latham was able to create more separation in the second. The Cardinals settled into the set and prevented the Sages from mounting the same type of late challenge they had produced earlier in the evening.
Monticello continued to battle, but Warrensburg-Latham maintained control as the set progressed and eventually closed out the night with a 25-15 victory, securing the match in straight sets.
The victory continued a strong stretch for Warrensburg-Latham, which also earned a two-set road victory over Sullivan earlier in the week. The Cardinals defeated Sullivan 25-23, 25-21 on Tuesday before returning home to face Monticello.
For Monticello, the final score does not fully reflect how competitive the Sages made the match early. Their performance in the opening set put Warrensburg-Latham under pressure and left the Cardinals with little room for error before they were finally able to pull away.
For Warrensburg-Latham, the night was highlighted by its ability to finish. The Cardinals survived a two-point battle in the first set before putting together a more convincing performance in the second, turning a competitive Central Illinois matchup into a straight-set victory.
FINAL: Warrensburg-Latham def. Monticello, 2-0
Set 1: Warrensburg-Latham 25, Monticello 23
Set 2: Warrensburg-Latham 25, Monticello 15
