As a freshman last year, Lincoln-Way East’s Kolby Ross admitted that her goal was to be a Division I athlete in both volleyball and track.
Upon further review …
“I don’t think that’s going to happen anymore,” Ross said.
In volleyball, the explosive 5-foot-8 sophomore outside hitter has heard from Missouri, Tennessee, Georgia and UCLA. She’s attended camps at Illinois, Loyola, TCU, Louisville and Missouri.
Ross showed why Tuesday night with 16 kills and six digs on her 16th birthday as the host Griffins pulled off a 25-16, 21-25, 25-19 SouthWest Suburban Conference win over Lockport in Frankfort.
Junior right-side hitter Klarke Mosby, an Eastern Michigan recruit, added 11 kills and nine digs for Lincoln-Way East (20-7, 6-0). Chloe Prainito followed with eight kills, while senior setters Maggie Simon and Brooklyn Ritter each tallied 19 assists.
The Griffins trailed 19-16 in the third game but scored nine straight points to close it out. Ross had two kills during that run and also helped the set the tone with seven kills in the first game.
“Honestly, in warm-ups, I wasn’t feeling the best,” Ross said. “But when I stepped on the court and felt the adrenaline and saw us all working together, I was swinging and it was working.
“It felt great after that.”
Prainito came through with two kills in that run to close out the third game, while Maddie Hellrung had a kill and a block. Charlotte Buck ended the match with an ace.
Hutsyn Timosciek led Lockport (21-4, 5-1) with 12 kills. Olivia Maier added five kills, while Natalie Bochantin finished with 15 assists and 11 digs.
After a remarkable freshman season, Ross has been even better this fall. With Indiana commit Alaina Pollard sidelined by spine injuries, Ross has been key in filling that big void in the lineup.
“She’s stepping up,” Lincoln-Way East coach Sean Burns said of Ross. “It’s something she had to do with Alaina injured. She’s just a heck of an athlete and has turned into a six-rotation player.”
Burns confirmed that Pollard is easing back into practices. The hope is that she will be available for the postseason in two weeks.
Lincoln-Way East, the defending conference champion, has won 10 straight matches. Ross, who had injury issues of her own early in the season, is one of the reasons why.
“She’s so aggressive and she’s never willing to stand down from a fight,” Mosby said of Ross. “If she gets blocked, it’s like, ‘OK, set me the next one.’ She’s always ready to get a good kill.
“She also uplifts everybody with her aggressive and uplifting spirit.”
Ross also came to Lincoln-Way East with an impressive track resume.
In eighth grade at Hickory Creek, she set an Illinois Elementary School Association state record in the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.20. She also had the best Class 4A time for the 100 in 12.53.
But she didn’t go out for track in the spring because of club volleyball.
“My club was far away in Vernon Hills,” Ross said of playing for Adversity. “It didn’t work with the timing for me to run track. But now it moved to Wood Dale and that’s not far.
“I want to do track again. That’s the goal.”
For now, Ross lists her main goal as helping to keep Lincoln-Way East on a winning track. She also wants to get her driver’s license next week.
Plus, she was excited about a birthday celebration that was planned for Tuesday night at home thanks in part to her father, Karim.
“He’s making me a cake,” Kolby said of her dad. “It’s vanilla with chocolate frosting. He’s a good cook.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
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