Plainfield North Survives Game 2 Disaster

Both coaches talked about what could have been after Plainfield North's 25-18, 25-27, 25-20 Southwest Prairie Conference girls volleyball victory over Plainfield East Tuesday night at North.

For the Tigers, they failed to win in two games after winning the first one for the seventh time in 10 three-game decisions this season.

For the Bengals, they pushed the Tigers to a third game, but fizzled down the stretch.

"We have moments of greatness," Plainfield East coach Sara Thomas said. "It's too bad it can't be more consistent."

"It's still our mental focus," Plainfield North coach Tracy Marshall said of the reason for the Tigers' problems in second games this season. "I'm disappointed with what we put on the floor tonight. Our expectations supersede what the girls did tonight. I'm disappointed in them."

Another downer for North was an injury to sophomore outside hitter Alyssa Bullock, who left the third game after turning her ankle. She did not return.

"When Alyssa got hurt, we decided we had to win it for her," Plainfield North senior hitter Hannah Crippen said. "We definitely did not play our best. We made too many errors, and it's too late in the season to play like this. But we ended up pulling out the win, which is all that matters."

Alison Kimmel's solo block ended the first game.

In the second game, Plainfield East (13-13, 3-8) led 23-19.

Adriana Solis' kill ended the game and forced a winner-take-all finale.

Plainfield East, which beat Plainfield North in three games at home earlier this year, bolted to a 5-0 lead in the third game before the Tigers came to life.

"I think we lose our focus after Game 1," said Crippen, who finished with 10 kills, four digs and a pair of aces. "We get too comfortable. We have to work on our mental toughness in practice."

Kills by Kimmel and Crippen gave the Tigers a 9-7 lead when Bullock left the game with an injury. The lead was 12-7 after a Bengal error.

Back-to-back aces by Dakota Santore and a kill by Crippen helped the Tigers pull out to a 19-12 lead. Plainfield North led 24-17, but Plainfield East wasn't finished.

A kill by Marissa Villarrubia cut the lead to 24-20 before the Tigers finally put it away.

"They are playing better, but their intensity and focus isn't there," Marshall said. "They have to put it all together. It has to come from them. I can't do it for them. We need senior leadership. We need the upperclassmen to lead this team. It shows at times, but at times, like tonight, in key situations, we let down."

Plainfield North junior setter Alex Marszalek had 15 assists and Kimmel chipped in seven blocks and four kills.

Emily Bejma came up with 23 assists and five aces for Plainfield East.

Eliza Slanker posted a team-best 13 digs and Jesse Dolman led the offense with 10 kills.

Solis added six kills to go along with six digs.