The girls varsity volleyball team defeated St. Ignatius 25-21, 18-25, 25-22 this Tuesday to win their sectional semifinal. They face rival Hinsdale South for the sectional championship tonight.

Despite a tough season the victory against St. Ignatius, ranked in the top ten, shows the potential and ability the girls have to offer, according to head coach Kelly Moran. “Even though we’ve had a losing record all season, we knew that we could beat Ignatius,” Moran said. “We were the underdogs, so this victory was big for us.”

According to senior volleyball player Gabby Rutkauskas, the team’s greatest strength is its tough mindset. “We are a resilient team who knows how to come to each game with an open and fresh attitude after a prior loss,” Rutkauskas said.

With onlookers filling the bleachers during the game, the atmosphere was exciting for everyone. “Our student section was pretty full so we knew it was going to be an intense game,” Moran said. “At one point we had four blocked kills in a row, and that got our fans going.”

As the team prepares to play Hinsdale South, they have been focusing on outside blocking. “South has only lost a few matches all season and have a very good outside hitter,” Moran said. “But, our seniors are ready and have been talking all season about going all the way.”