What they lack in height, the Fenwick girls volleyball team will make up for in scrappiness.
That’s more or less how head coach Kelly Colangelo answered the question of how tall her front court is this season. Colangelo is hoping experience and aggressiveness will play major roles in her team’s success.
“Our schedule is tough every year and without a huge blocker it will be even tougher, but I think that our seasoned defensive specialists will rise to the challenge and pick up a good deal of the balls that would have been blocked in the year’s past,” she said.
Returning defensive specialists include seniors Sam Soukal, Katie Bindon and Meg Lawlor. Junior Katie Clancy is also back from a team that went 4-5 and finished fourth in the East Suburban Catholic Conference.
The Friars are expected to be led by junior outside hitter Olivia Soja and setter Maggie Reilly.
Outside hitters Nicole Kovak and Hannah Sophie are two juniors who are expected to contribute significantly this season.
Marist, Benet and Joliet Catholic will likely vie for the top spot in the conference again this year, but with the hard work the Friars put in during the offseason a top three finish is possible.
“I plan on relying on our conditioning to outlast most teams,” said Colangelo. “I’m confident that we will have a fun year with this team.”
The Friars host Trinity on Tuesday and cross-town rival OPRF on Sept. 8 (both at 6 p.m.).
-Brad Spencer