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Sports

Motivated Minooka Nets Volleyball Win over Plainfield South

Southwest Prairie Conference champs ruin Cougars' Senior Night.

Minooka High School girls volleyball team won the Southwest Prairie Conference championship last Thursday night.

A week earlier, it was given the No. 2 seed in the five-team Class 3A Normal Regional.

And, over the weekend, it reached the 20-win mark.

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With those three accomplishments under its belt, you would think the team might put it on cruise control.

On the contrary, Minooka (21-5-1, 12-1 in the SPC) is building momentum heading into the final week of the regular season in advance of the regional.

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"We want a good record to end the season, even though we already won conference," junior outside hitter Stacey Perinar said. "We accomplished three of our goals over the weekend, so I'm excited."

"We have a great conference record and we want to finish it off strong," senior outside hitter Daryian Hopper said. "We want to end the conference season with just one loss. That's motivation for everybody."

"We were able to accomplish three teams goals in three days," Minooka coach Chris Hoelscher said. "We won the conference, won 20 games and won our own tournament. Those were all important goals for us."

On Tuesday, Minooka swept to a 25-12, 25-21 victory and spoiled Plainfield South's Senior Night.

Plainfield South seniors Lexi O'Boyle and Macey Berta were honored prior to warmups. Notably missing from the celebration was senior outside hitter, Camille Alvarez, who has been suspended for five games for violating the district's athletic code. Just nine players dressed for the Cougars (16-11-2, 7-6 in the SPC).

"It was one of those unfortunate nights," Plainfield South coach Amy Larson said. "It's kind of sad when a couple of the girls have the flu and we had to play without Camille. It is what it is. That was an unfortunate situation. Those freshmen and sophomores had to play, and this gave them a taste of what to expect the next couple of years."

Perinar served the first five points of the match and the Indians never looked back. Bri Marquez served 10 straight points for the Indians in the first game.

In the second game, Plainfield South was as close as 8-7 before Minooka took control.

The visitors led 24-15, but the Cougars didn't fold. Miranda LeJeune, a sophomore, served five straight points to cut the lead to 24-21.

However, Marquez fed senior Caleigh Hill, who put down the final point to end the match.

Junior Allison Waldvogel's three kills and eight digs were both highs for the Cougars. O'Boyle had six assists, before sitting out the second game because of an illness.

Plainfield South is the No. 13 seed in the Romeoville sectional and will host its own regional, beginning Wednesday, Oct. 27.

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