ASPIRE Athlete Of The Week For Oct. 18: Megan Pekarek

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – She's one of the best at making her teammates better. Megan Pekarek holds her school's volleyball assists record.

It's one of many reasons she was our Aspire Athlete of the Week.

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Her family is a family of volleyball players.

"We all started playing practically when we were babies," Pekarek said. "We played in the backyard and everything."

And it shows.

Pekarek is part of a 21-1 Osseo team currently ranked fourth in Class 3-A. Her 5th year on varsity is her best yet.

Pekarek has come a long way since 8th grade. In addition to growing about 6 inches, she now holds the school record for assists.

This weekend the senior setter will likely surpass 2,500 career assists. But there's a lot more to her game than just setting up her teammates.

"The funny thing is Megan is the hardest hitter on our team," said coach Bill Quan. "But we have her at setter because she runs the 5-1 so smoothly. We are more successful that way."

Pekarek is a stand-out off the court, too. An excellent student, and a yearbook editor, she volunteers at Osseo's youth volleyball camps. Like her older sisters, she'll play in college next year after receiving a scholarship from U-W Parkside. But for now, her focus is on getting the Orioles to state.

"That would mean a ton to do that," she said. "It would be perfect...if it ends that way."

Both of Megan's Pekarek were college athletes and her younger sister is a member of the Orioles nearly undefeated team.