Plainfield Central outlasts rival East

Updated: October 13, 2011 8:27PM

If Plainfield Central needed a wake-up call with the state playoffs around the corner, the Wildcats got one Thursday night, courtesy of rival Plainfield East.

For team captain Erin Hyland, it couldn’t have come at a better time.

After losing a three-game heartbreaker Tuesday to Minooka, host Central outlasted a feisty East squad 25-23, 20-25, 25-20 on Senior Night in Southwest Prairie play.

“I honestly think they caught us napping,” Hyland said. “It’s so important to not get too confident. Sometimes we need games like this to realize everything isn’t in the bag for us. You need to work just as hard.”

No one worked harder than Hyland as she racked up 15 kills for Central (16-12, 9-3). Dana Peterson (5 digs), Victoria Swigard (8 kills, 7 blocks) and Taryn Trubich (20 assists) also contributed for the Wildcats.

Marissa Villarrubia (9 digs, 7 blocks, 3 kills), Justine Bunn (9 kills) and Allison Bowbin (10 assists) led East (6-21, 2-8).

Through two games, it was East taking the momentum, stealing away the second game with an 8-1 closing run led by Bunn (3 kills, 2 blocks).

But on Senior Night, Hyland and the Wildcats weren’t about to lose on their home floor. Hyland had eight kills in the decisive third game.

Refusing to go out quietly, East drew to within 21-19. Hyland then came through with two more kills as Central pulled away.

“Every single senior did not want to lose,” Hyland said. “We took it personally. This is our gym.”

East fell 25-10, 25-8 to Central two weeks ago.

“Every team we’ve played a second time, we’ve given them a run for their money,” East coach Kathleen Mixan said. “We’re getting better, and that’s all I can ask.”

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