Not this time. Sidney Hamaker and Co. had been this far last year and felt like it was time to take the next step. On the program’s fifth try, the Oswego girls volleyball team got it done. “It’s just everything,” said Hamaker, a Long Beach State recruit. “We’ve never, ever in school history gone this far in the playoffs, which seems pretty ridiculous to me, but it is what it is. “This is our first sectional final. And beating Joliet West to reach it is special because we’re conference rivals and we lost to them twice last year. It’s very exciting.” Much of that excitement Tuesday night materialized because of Hamaker. The 6-foot-1 senior outside hitter came up big with nine kills and four blocks to lift the Panthers to a 25-17, 25-19 victory over the Tigers in a Class 4A Bolingbrook Sectional semifinal. The historic victory sends Oswego (32-4) to a 6 p.m. Thursday championship match against Lockport (33-5), which upset the Panthers 25-23, 25-18 in last year’s sectional semifinal. In three previous sectional appearances — 1993, 2005 and 2011 — they were one and done. Oswego’s Sidney Hamaker (13) returns a serve against Joliet West during the Class 4A Bolingbrook Sectional semifinals on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Steve Johnston / The Beacon-News) “For us, you just saw the grind,” Oswego coach Gary Mosley said. “These girls wanted this moment. Every day we keep talking about the next day. “What have we got on the plate? Every day we try to go 1-0. That’s the goal right now.” Two weeks earlier, second-seeded Oswego prevailed in three games over third-seeded Joliet West (28-10) to win the Southwest Prairie Conference title, reversing the teams’ positions from a year ago. Senior setter Ava Flanigan said it’s one reason why the Panthers didn’t take the Tigers for granted in the sectional. “They put up a good fight and always have,” said Flanigan, who finished with 20 assists in Tuesday’s match. “We’ve always been at each other’s throats, but it was a good game. “We’ve been working hard, got here and it worked out.” Senior outside hitter Mia Jurkovic, a Western Michigan recruit, added eight kills and a block. Senior right-side hitter Kelsey Foster followed with four kills, while sophomore middle Hannah Herrick had three kills and a block. Oswego’s Hannah Herrick (7) goes up for a block against Joliet West during the Class 4A Bolingbrook Sectional semifinals on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Steve Johnston / The Beacon-News) In the other semifinal, top-seeded Lockport started strong but had to battle late for a 25-8, 20-25, 25-18 win over fourth-seeded Lincoln-Way West (25-13). Hamaker and her teammates watched the match, very much aware of what they were witnessing, and called it “second set syndrome” — a condition volleyball players try to avoid. The veteran-laden Panthers, who have five senior starters, were having none of it against the Tigers, who had just one senior on the roster and were missing an injured freshman starter. “We always talk about it, second set syndrome, in our huddles,” Hamaker said. “You’ll win the first set by a big margin and almost think it’s over. You don’t play as well in the second set and let the other team come back, so we always talk about not letting that happen. “We stress just staying pedal to the metal the entire time and not relax or let up.” It helps having Hamaker, Flanigan and Jurkovic, who could be dubbed Oswego’s “Big Three.” “They’re chemistry is just so cohesive,” Mosley said. “And this year, they’ve found another level. I think it can continue, too. They just keep finding a way to get better.” Oswego’s Ava Flanigan (12) sets the ball against Joliet West during the Class 4A Bolingbrook Sectional semifinals on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Steve Johnston / The Beacon-News) Flanigan, however, cautioned about focusing on just the trio. “It’s everyone,” she said. “We’ve all been working so hard and improving together. We’re all a huge part of this win.” And at this time of the season, the Panthers know to take it step-by-step. “We’re a step better than last year,” Mosley said. “But at the end of the day, that’s not the step we’re looking for. It’s just another stop, that’s what we try to stay focused on.”