Two local high school volleyball teams are moving on while others suffered unfortunate ends to their seasons in regional play this week.

Columbia faced a familiar foe in Freeburg on Thursday in the Class 3A Centralia Regional final. The Eagles (32-4) had previously beaten the Midgets four times this season and made it a fifth with a tough 25-23, 25-22 victory.

The Eagles advanced to the Herrin Sectional, where they will face Murphysboro on Tuesday night. Columbia lost to Murphysboro, 26-24, 25-17, in a Mascoutah tournament match played on Sept. 12. Other teams in the sectional are Mascoutah and Carbondale.

To view the final point from Thursday’s regional championship match, click here.

Also on Thursday, Valmeyer continued its recent stretch of strong play with a victory over rival New Athens in the Class 1A Marissa Regional final, 25-20, 25-16. The Pirates (23-11) had split with New Athens during the regular season and came out with enough intensity on Thursday night to move on.

With the win, Valmeyer advances to the Norris City Sectional, where they will face Crab Orchard (Marion) on Tuesday night. Other teams in the sectional are Cobden and Christopher.

In Class 2A, Gibault suffered a heartbreaking defeat Thursday night at the hands of Trico in the Red Bud Regional final, 25-22, 25-22. The Hawks ended their season at 25-12, and just couldn’t gather enough momentum against a tough Trico team that was out for revenge following last year’s sectional championship match won by Gibault.

Earlier in the week, Waterloo, Dupo and Red Bud suffered season-ending losses in regional play.