Today’s Romeoville sectional championship volleyball game features a big rematch between Minooka and Plainfield Central.

Previously in the season the Indians lost to the Wildcats in three games by two points.  Plainfield Central is also the SPC champion. 

Minooka’s current record of 32-6 includes conference play, tournaments and post season. The team’s latest victory was against Joliet West on Tuesday, Nov. 1 in the sectional semi-final game.

“It’s nice to be able to play Plainfield Central again because the way it works now for conference is that we play five teams twice and four teams only once. Plainfield Central was one of the teams we played only once, so it will be good to play the team again after watching the team improve so much,” Ms. Carrie Prosek, head volleyball coach, said.

The team has been focusing mainly on serve receive and defense since the last time they played Plainfield Central. Prosek said that 80 percent of their practices are dedicated to working on defense.

“Emotions will be high … but we aim to not let the negative feelings get to us on the court,” Katie Bulger, senior, said.

Junior Sammi Hermann said the team has tried to keep up positive energy.

“Our team plays better based on the energy that we create before games. On bus rides we bring speakers and get up and dance and sing to get hyped before we play,” Hermann said.

Making it this far into the postseason is big for any team. The girls feel like they have really put themselves on the map. They have played bigger tournaments and won against higher ranked teams that has spread the Minooka name across the state.

“Support from the girls who aren’t able to play as much, and support from the Indian Nation all season has really propelled our team to work harder and push ourselves to where we want to be,” Prosek said.

“You know I get nervous before every game, but I am more excited than nervous about (the game). Our team as a whole has worked hard all season and we deserve to take home another title,” Ali Papesh, junior, said.

A sectional championship would put Minooka one step closer to state.

“We are going to take this game one point at a time, one day at a time. Making it to state would be nice, but I am not going to think that far into the future yet. As a team we need to push through … and whatever happens happens,” Prosek said.

The game will start at 6 p.m. Thursday at Romeoville High School.