April McGhee and Natalie Kofie always have been connected at the hip.
The two have known each other since they were 4 years old. Their older sisters, Alyssa McGhee and Olivia Kofie, are former standout volleyball players for Larkin.
The Royal juniors are also acutely connected on the volleyball court as the team’s primary libero-setter tandem for two seasons running. They’ve played on the same teams at every level, for their entire volleyball lives.
“We’ve been best friends for 12 years and that carries over onto the court. It’s great playing with (Kofie),” McGhee said. “On the court, we have a connection where she never doubts me and I never doubt her.”
McGhee is Larkin’s libero and Kofie the Royals’ setter. Even though Larkin has struggled for wins this season, the two have shined in their roles.
In 131 games played in her varsity career through Saturday’s action, McGhee has 406 digs for an average of 3.1. And she has stepped up her game this year.
“She’s always quick and good at reading defenses and this year she’s even more consistent,” Larkin coach Henry Graack said.
McGhee has 795 serve receptions and 46 aces in her career. She has had 14 digs in three-game matches against Hoffman Estates and South Elgin this year, and 11 digs three times.
But her main goal heading into any game involves another number.
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“More than 16 digs,” she said, “because that’s the most I’ve ever gotten in a game.”
Those digs are geared to find their way to Kofie, who appreciates her friend’s abilities.
“April is so good at reading the hitter and anticipating where the ball will be,” Kofie said. “And if it goes off the block in a weird way or it’s something unexpected, she still gets there.”
McGhee calls Kofie “our leader on the team and anyone can see it. She’s the one.”
Kofie has played 159 varsity games, amassing 1,031 assists for an average of 6.5 assists, with highs of 31 assists in a three-game match against Hoffman Estates and 25 in a two-game match against Streamwood.
Kofie has blossomed into one of the best setters in the area. Graack traces part of her improvement this season to the weight room.
“She’s bench-pressing three sets of 10 at 70 pounds,” he said. “Her upper-body strength stands out this year and she can push balls a lot farther than she could last year.”
Larkin will get one more season from the McGhee-Kofie duo before they likely go their separate ways in college.
“That’s going to be sad,” Kofie said. “If we can play in college together, we will, but that’s hard to do.
“Me and April were best friends before we even started playing together. We live two minutes from each other and we went to the same church. She’s the reason I started playing. We have such good chemistry together.”
Green Wave rising: St. Edward (10-5) improved to 5-3 in the Metro Suburban West with a 25-18, 25-18 win over Aurora Central Catholic last Thursday.
The Green Wave got another all-around effort from Dominque Washington with a team-high eight kills and seven digs, while setter Gabriella Tripicchio led the way with 14 assists.
Huntley beats Jacobs: Huntley topped Jacobs for the second time this season in Fox Valley Valley play, this time in three games.
The Red Raiders won 25-23, 22-25, 25-20 on the Golden Eagles’ home floor, getting 13 kills from Erin Erb and eight from Aly Dion, plus eight digs from Brea Jereb, 15 assists from Kristy Swanson and 11 assists from Sarah Zayas.
Gary Larsen is a freelance writer for The Courier-News.