Redwings clinch Final Four berth

NORMAL - For a one-loss team, firsts become few and far between after 40 games.

But for Benet, winning the Class 4A Normal West supersectional for the first time over Edwardsville 25-20, 25-15 ensured the school's first trip to the state tournament.

"We're making history," Benet senior Jessica Jendryk said. "It's part of being on this dream team.

"The feeling that, this is it, it's senior year. Coming out and just going for it and playing with all your heart, it's just an awesome feeling leaving no regrets."

The Redwings (39-1) will attempt to keep their dream of a state championship alive Friday when they face off against Mother McAuley.

"We're taking it one game at a time," said Jendryk, who smashed 7 kills against Edwardsville. "We want to go all the way, but we always have to worry about the next game."

The clichéd approach to the playoffs is something coach Brad Baker feels has set his team apart.

"This team, they just have it in them," Baker said. "Until you're actually with a team that actually (takes one game at a time), nobody understands what it is. This team, they're able to concentrate on what's coming up next."

To get past Edwardsville and move to the state tournament the Redwings took advantage of superior execution.

Benet's pinpoint accuracy on serves was the fuel for its pair of 6-point rallies, one coming in each game.

"Our serve-receive fell apart on both of their 6-point runs," said Edwardsville coach Jami Parker.

Junior Gina Finke was the leading server, going 10-for-10 with 3 aces from behind the service line for Benet.

"(Finke's) serve in the state playoffs has been fantastic," Baker said. "Her serve moves and floats a lot, but the key to her serving is she's able to hit the spots that we want her to put the ball in."

On Finke's key serves in the Redwings run to put them ahead 7-1 to start Game 2, Baker called in locations to his server.

Finke was able to keep her head and execute.

"Just going back there I tried to stay focused, tune everything out and serve hard," she said. "It's hard not to get caught up in it and serve harder and serve out of bounds. It feels great, to make history is unbelievable."