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Joliet Central Volleyball Dominates IMSA on Senior Night, 25-20, 25-19

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UPDATE: The Joliet Central volleyball team delivered a commanding performance on October 23, 2023, sweeping the Illinois Math and Science Academy (IMSA) 25-20, 25-19 on Senior Night. With this victory, the Steelmen have now won three of their last five matches, signaling an upswing as the postseason approaches.

Joliet Central, now 8-21 for the season, appears to be regaining momentum just as playoff action is set to kick off next week. Senior captain Delaney Moran shone brightly, leading all players with nine kills, and emphasized the team’s renewed energy. “I think we’re back to playing like we were at the start of the season,” Moran stated. “The biggest difference lately has been our energy. We are really getting to the point where we trust each other on the court.”

Coach Kevin O’Connell made a strategic move by starting all of his seniors, including Moran, Andrea Mireles, Joyse Alvizo, Jasmin Gonzalez Guzman, Izabel Barrera, Cameron Salazar, and Makinsey Whitmore. The senior lineup responded with enthusiasm, showcasing a strong team effort throughout the match.

The Steelmen kicked off the first set with a kill from Whitmore, but IMSA initially took the lead at 5-2. Joliet Central quickly countered with a 9-3 run, pushing ahead to 11-8 after an ace by Salazar. IMSA fought back, tying the score at 13-13, but Central responded decisively, with Moran contributing three crucial kills in a 10-3 run that secured a 23-17 lead. The set concluded with a kill from Alivea Gonzalez.

“It was pretty cool to have all the seniors on the floor at the start of the match,” Moran remarked. “We are developing and becoming a team. We’re really excited for the postseason to start.”

In the second set, Joliet Central wasted no time, jumping to a quick 4-0 lead with contributions from Moran and Mireles. IMSA briefly narrowed the gap to 9-6, but the Steelmen unleashed a powerful 7-0 spurt that included a kill from Guzman and two aces from Barrera. Despite IMSA pulling within 22-19 late, Joliet Central sealed the match with a Titan hitting error followed by back-to-back kills from Mickelaynuh Wollenzien.

“We are starting to get some confidence going,” O’Connell noted. “We did a good job tonight of not beating ourselves. Outside of a few serving errors, we didn’t make many unforced errors. It was nice to see us playing tonight like we did at the start of the year. Our defense is back on point, and the offense is back to hitting well.”

As the Steelmen prepare for the postseason, they will focus on maintaining their momentum and confidence. With the energy at an all-time high, fans and players alike are eager to see how this rejuvenated team performs in the upcoming playoff matches. Keep an eye on Joliet Central as they aim to carry this winning streak into the postseason.

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