Lemont Volleyball 1 Of 4 Programs Declared Ineligible By IHSA

LEMONT, IL — The Lemont High School girls volleyball team is one of four IHSA member volleyball teams that are now ineligible for the state series this year, IHSA shared with Patch.

An emergency appeal was held Wednesday, but IHSA officials denied LHS' appeal and the Lemont volleyball team remains ineligible for the state series.

Lemont, Altamont, Belleville East and St. Teresa were all removed from their girls volleyball regionals on Tuesday, IHSA said.

All four teams were discovered to be in violation of IHSA By-Law 5.323. IHSA By-Law 5.323 states that “No Girls Volleyball team representing a member school shall, in any one season, participate in more than 35 matches exclusive of the IHSA State series.”

Lemont played in 36 matches in advance of the 2023 IHSA State Series.

The girls team had posted a 27-9 record (before the Oct. 18 forfeit) during the regular season, and after posting a perfect 13-0 record in league play, won the program’s ninth straight South Suburban Conference title. It earned the top seed in the IHSA Class 3A Lemont Sectional.

IHSA said it sustained its decision during the appeal, and all four teams have forfeited their regional matches.

“The season limitation by-law exists in every IHSA sport in order to provide competitive equity among the schools as they enter into competition in the IHSA State Series. As unfortunate as the result may be, these teams received a competitive advantage that no other team in the tournament received, and there is over 40 years of precedence dictating that violating this rule excludes a team from State Series participation," IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson said. "Neither myself, the IHSA staff, nor the IHSA Board of Directors derive any joy in delivering this decision, but we are tasked with upholding the rules our member schools put into place.”