Whether she was serving or desperately trying to knock the volleyball over the net during a lengthy rally, Newark senior Heather Buhle delivered one big play after the next during Thursday’s Class 1A regional final match against conference foe Serena at Yorkville Christian.

Buhle helped get the Norsemen off to great starts in both sets with her potent serving and earned the final point in a wild finish in the opening set of a 25-22, 25-13 sweep.

Newark (32-4) advances to take on Stockton in Tuesday’s semifinal in the Class 1A Lanark (Eastland) Sectional.

“That was awesome because I was so exhausted after that rally,” Buhle said. “I was just praying to be done. Serena is very scrappy good at sending it over even when it goes for a crazy long rally.

“Everyone was tired and I just had

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