As one of the most successful programs in at Plainfield North, the Girl’s Volleyball team seeks to continue to build on their legacy this year by repeating last year’s success and more. The team won its first Sectional Championship in school history last year and hopes to improve advance further.

The team has three starters returning in Seniors Lauren Robeck, Allie Lindroth, and Lauren Murphy. Robeck and Lindroth having played on the Varsity team for all four years of their high school career.

The Tigers have repeated as Regional and Conference champions for the past three years and look to make it four this fall. They made it to the Super Sectional match last season, but lost in three to Normal West.

“There is always pressure to win, especially if you have been so good over the years and you continue to excel and continue to go farther than years past, but I don’t think that we should worry too much and should take it one day at a time,” said

Robeck.

With nine new players on varsity roster, the team will have to adjust to the inexperience at the Varsity level. Multiple players on the team have played at North for years, but are new additions to the Varsity roster. The team believes that it will be an easy and fast adjustment for these players as they are all willing to put in work to compete at a high level.

Captains Robeck and Lindroth will help guide the team as they gain more experience.

“[So far] it’s not been very hard considering I’ve practiced with them in past years. The pace is just a lot faster [on the varsity level],”said Senior Chloe Fleming.

The team lost two starters with right side hitter Kaitlyn Fisher and Libero Maddie Zyburt leaving to play volleyball at the collegiate level. The team also lost six other seniors last year.

“The pressure is definitely there considering how far we got last year, but I don’t want that to interfere with the season. I know that there is a lot to work on, but if we keep our focus we can get just as far,” said Lindroth.

The team tied, record wise, for first place in conference with conference rival Plainfield Central, but was awarded conference champions after defeating Central in both meeting during the regular season. They went on to beat Central in the Sectionals final in three matches for the third time that season.

The team just placed 13 in their home invite on Friday and Saturday. Their next tournament is in Champaign the weekend of September, 4th.

“Every single year we strive for the same goal- that Redbird Arena. Yes, we have fallen short the last three years, but that won’t change our goals and expectations,” said Lindroth

With big expectations every year, expect the Tigers to make it even farther into the playoffs and get the first Super Sectional victory in school history. There will be plenty of challenges along the way.

“We want to win Conference, Regionals, and Sectionals again and then make it farther than ever before, we will have people step up and help us along the way,” said Robeck

The first home game for the Tigers is Thursday, September 3 against Wheaton Warrenville South. Then, next week they play Oswego East on Tuesday and Minooka high school on Thursday.