When Lemont outside hitter Kaitlyn Wilson was in fourth grade at St. Alphonsus and St. Patrick, she was promoted one level because the fifth grade team didn’t have enough players.
That’s when she met setter Olivia Sarno, who took Wilson under her wing.
“She was always really good,” Sarno said, recalling Wilson’s talent even at that age. “She was super athletic, and when you are athletic, it makes the move up a little easier.”
With help from Sarno, Wilson made it look easy Thursday night as Lemont rolled to a 25-22, 25-16 victory over host Richards in a South Suburban Conference crossover match in Oak Lawn.
The 5-foot-8 Wilson put on a show with seven kills and eight digs for Lemont (5-2, 1-0). Colleen Arundel added five kills, while Sarno notched 19 assists and Nora Miller tallied 12 digs.
For Richards (1-7, 0-1), Mia Albon landed nine kills and Peyton Craan added six.
Despite a one-year age difference, Wilson and Sarno were teammates all these years until last season, when Sarno was on varsity and Wilson played JV. They said they missed each other.
Wilson also said she likes offense and hitting best but still enjoys playing strong defense.
“I do like defense a lot,” said Wilson, who’s a junior. “If you are going up against a really good hitter and you get digs off of her, it brings so much momentum to the rest of the team.”
A red-hot Wilson heated up offensively in the first game, putting away five kills in a back-and-forth battle with the Bulldogs.
The only thing that kept her from having a monster effort at the net in the second game? She was rarely near the net, stuck in the back row for 34 of the 41 points.
Wilson still managed two kills on seven attempts and used the second game to pile up her digs, which impressed Sarno.
“Her defense is phenomenal,” Sarno said of Wilson. “It’s top notch. It’s so important. It’s one of the reasons we won. Her serve is so good. And she is a huge threat in the front row, too.”
Lemont coach Chris Zogata is having fun watching Wilson succeed all over the court.
“She’s an athlete — a really, really good athlete,” Zogata said. “She needs to improve on hitting shots. She’s very aggressive and very scrappy. She goes after every ball. She just does a really nice job.”
Lemont needed a big effort from everyone in the lineup in the first game as Richards took the momentum early with a 6-2 lead. After two ties and two lead changes, the Bulldogs led 20-17.
In the end, Lemont got two kills from Wilson and aces from Miller and Gillian Michalak to clinch.
Zogata has high hopes for a big season. Lemont opened with a nonconference win over Hinsdale South, then went 3-2 in the Metea Valley Tournament, losing to Montini and the host Mustangs.
“We have a lot of growth yet,” Zogata said. “We’re not passing serves as well as I would like. Otherwise, we’re just moving along, trying to get better and better.”
Wilson, meanwhile, is one of those players working hard to improve, playing a sport she loves.
“I like the connections you are able to make in volleyball,” she said. “You are all together every day in practice and you can make great friendships with people. That’s awesome.”
One of those friendships has been with her setter.
“She’s always been like a role model to me,” Wilson said of Sarno. “I really look up to her.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
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