Playing and beating Park’s rival Benilde St-Margaret’s after Park was defeated last year felt fantastic according to girls’ volleyball captain, junior Makaila Winward.

“They’re our rivals so we were really ready for this game and last year we didn’t play well against them at all, so to come back this year felt really good,” Winward said.

According to MN Volleyball Hub, Park beat Benilde St-Margaret’s 3-0, bringing their current record to 14-8-0.

Coach Whitney Meierotto-Simon said playing Benilde is always a blast because of the close rivalry between the two teams.

“Benilde is always a really fun match,” Meierotto-Simon said. “I feel like it’s one of our closer rivalries being they’re right here in St. Louis Park — they’re our neighbor, they’re in our conference, they’re in our section.”

Senior Maddy McIntosh, who is a captain, said she was excited Park would be playing Benilde on senior night.  

“I was super happy that we were playing Benilde on our senior night because every other team is a big match, but Benilde is like the top one that we want to beat just because of the rivalry and stuff,” McIntosh said.

In honor of senior night, Winward said they all wanted to play their best.

“I think we all really wanted to play for our seniors because it’s their last year and against Benilde too, like we were all playing really well and just for them,” Winward said.

McIntosh said even though she went into this game like other games, it felt different because it was one of her last games at Park.

“I still went into the game the same as any other game but this one was just really emotional and I wanted to win even more since it’s senior night and my last game here. It’s bittersweet,” McIntosh said.

Park’s next game is in the Rochester Century Tournament at 5:15 Friday, Oct 19 at National Volleyball Center in Rochester, according to slpvolleyball.com.