ROCKFORD, Ill. — Galena’s volleyball season came to an end on November 3, 2026, when Rockford Christian defeated the Pirates 25-12, 14-25, 25-20 in the Class 1A sectional semifinal at Rockford Christian High School.

Galena entered the match at 31-4 and ranked at the top of Class 1A, but Rockford Christian controlled the opening set, Galena answered with a runaway second set, and the hosts closed out the deciding third set to advance. Galena finished the season at 31-5.

Rockford Christian, which finished fourth in Class 2A in 2025 and moved down to Class 1A for the 2026 season, improved to 22-12 with the victory. Devon Turner led the Royal Lions with nine kills, Lauren Iversen added six, and Josie Becker delivered two key spikes late in the third set to help finish the match. Rockford Christian’s coach credited her team’s refusal to quit after dropping the second set, and Turner said the team found its rhythm at the right time in the deciding set.

The sectional final is set for November 5, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at Rockford Christian, where the Royal Lions will meet Stockton. Stockton, which finished second in Class 1A in each of the past two seasons, swept Indian Creek 25-6, 25-14 in the second semifinal on November 3, 2026, with Taylor Haas leading the way with seven kills. The winner of the November 5, 2026 final advances to the Rockford Christian Super-Sectional on November 9, 2026, at 7:00 p.m., with a berth in the state tournament at stake.

Rockford Christian and Stockton did not meet during the 2026 regular season. Both teams split their matches against Durand during the season, and Rockford Christian eliminated Durand 25-21, 25-20 in the Pecatonica Regional final during the week before the sectional.