Going for history: H-BR look to add to list of firsts

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Hinckley-Big Rock’s Cassie Rickert (2) tips the ball over the net past Mooseheart’s Katie Stryker (12) for a point during the first game of the IHSA Class 1A Westminster Christian Regional on Oct. 28 in Elgin. Rob Winner – rwinner@daily-chronicle.com

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HINCKLEY — Heather Weissinger remembers not being able to get into the second game against Dwight in last season’s sectional final loss.

Dwight dominated the Royals that night in a 25-12, 25-4 victory, going on a 23-0 run to close out game two.

“I was to come in on the second rotation of the game last year, and I only got in the first game,” said Weissinger, H-BR’s libero. “It was very, very nerve-racking and frustrating for the entire game.

“We definitely didn’t play our best, we could have played a lot better.”

H-BR senior hitter Jenna Thorp can’t help but remember that huge run when she thinks about that night.

“We couldn’t get a pass, I think they served like 22 in a row or something,” Thorp said. “I don’t think we were mentally prepared. Dwight was really good and had really powerful hitters.”

But the Royals (26-8-1) don’t expect the same result tonight when they take on Newark at 7 p.m. in the Class 1A Serena Sectional final.

H-BR has already beaten the Norsemen twice this season.

Royals coach Don Watson hasn’t brought up last year’s loss.

“Thing of the past,” Watson said. “It was a bad night for us, we didn’t play well. We really don’t talk about that.”

Thorp said last year’s experience should help her team in tonight’s game.

“It helps us a lot mentally.” Thorp said. “We’re just looking to play our game, and hopefully the outcome will be like the last few.”

A victory tonight would net H-BR its first sectional title in school history, and would be a stepping stone on its already outstanding season, which has featured a school record for wins and the school’s first Little Ten Conference title.

“We’ve never experienced winning a sectional final and going to a super-sectional,” Watson said. “We’ve got a chance. Hopefully the girls can play to that level. It’s not that we’re playing a team that’s overpowering or way better than we are.”

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