Margaret Planek assumed an unfamiliar position for Fenwick’s Class 3A regional final on Thursday, Oct. 29.
At least the sophomore from Oak Park could take comfort in knowing that there were plenty of recognizable faces on the other side of the net.
The 6-foot Planek made her season debut as an outside hitter in the playoff match against Trinity. The Blazers featured at least four of Planek’s club teammates on the River Forest Triple Aces, where Trinity coach Ken Urlir is program director.
With a new-look lineup in place for the regional final, fifth-seeded Fenwick outlasted fourth-seeded Trinity 25-21, 25-18 at Fenwick.
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Fenwick will play top-seeded Glenbard South, a 21-10, 21-14 winner over Wheaton Academy, in the Glenbard South Sectional semifinal at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3.
When the Friars (22-11), a first-year member of the GCAC Red, defeated conference rival Trinity (19-18) 25-22, 19-25, 28-26 on Oct. 19 at Trinity, Fenwick used two setters and Planek played her usual position at right-side hitter. She switched to strong-side outside hitter when starting outside hitter McKenzie Moorman, who ranks second in kills for the Friars, suffered an injury toward the end of practice on Monday, Oct. 26.
Fenwick didn’t even have time to test out its new alignment. Fenwick coach Kathleen O’Laughlin conducted a walk-through after school, plugging Planek into the new position and moving setter Katie McAllister to defensive specialist.
O’Laughlin knew that Planek could handle the responsibility.
“Margaret is such an exciting player,” O’Laughlin said. “She has so many skills. She can set; she can play middle hitter like she did last year. A player like Margaret is the reason you win so many matches like this.”
Senior Annie Trucco led Fenwick with 11 kills and Planek had six. Setter Mary Marzo had 21 assists.
Trinity starters Carly Uhlir, Natalie Bova and Sarah Whiteside and reserve Carmen Peterson had already seen Planek play that position. They were her teammates on Triple Aces 16 U when she played right-side hitter in her first season with the club, which won its division at Asics Junior Nationals in June.
“I love their program,” Planek said. “They have a good mixture of camaraderie and athleticism. The girls are so sweet.”
“We had fun with Margaret. She was a good teammate,” Carly Uhlir said. “She contributed a lot to our team.”
Margaret Planek grew up watching her sisters Elizabeth (2007 graduate) and Mary Kate (2009 grad) play for the Friars. Their mother, Mary Planek, was a Division III volleyball player at Illinois Tech.
“They have helped me so much,” Margaret Planek said of her sisters. “I used to go to the gym to watch them practice.”
Twitter @geomwilcox