Elizabeth Ford didn’t play like Thursday, Oct. 8, was her sixth varsity volleyball match of the season.
Loyola’s 6-foot-2 freshman middle finished with three kills and one block in her team’s 25-18, 25-10 win over St. Ignatius, the Ramblers’ first victory in the GCAC Red this season.
Ford was called up from the JV team before the Tuesday, Sept. 22, match against three-time defending Class 3A state champion St. Francis after senior middle Kate Pillion was sidelined with an illness. Ford finished with three kills and one block in her varsity debut.
“She knew her role,” Loyola coach Mark Chang said about her St. Francis start. “She demonstrated great focus and discipline and a concentration on blocking. What made the night better for her was she was also part of the offense. [Senior setter Katie Randolph] felt comfortable giving her the ball.”
In six starts and 13 games, Ford has 20 kills and 13 blocks. Twice she has led the Ramblers (13-5, 1-2) in both kills and blocks during a match. The first time came in a 25-13, 30-28 win over Trinity on Tuesday, Sept. 29, when she had seven kills and three blocks. Two days later on Thursday, Oct. 1, she recorded five kills and four blocks in a 25-8, 25-18 win over Rosary.
“She’s a quick learner and hard worker,” Chang said.
Ford said she was surprised by the promotion to varsity, and she said she was “absolutely nervous” about making that first start.
“I have looked up to those girls for so long,” she said. “I just wanted to make a good impression.”
Even with all she had done in her short stay, it wasn’t until last week that Ford said she believed she belonged on varsity. She’s the only underclassmen on the 18-player roster.
“It took awhile to realize it,” she said. “I had to get that confidence in myself, especially with how I fit in on the team. But everybody has been so supportive of me being here.”
As much as anything, Ford’s time playing on the JV accelerated her transition to varsity, according to Chang. Instead of sitting on the varsity bench since the start of the season, Ford was a key player for the Ramblers on the lower level team.
“We wanted her playing,” Chang said. “She was a good fit for JV early this season.”
Ford said she agreed with him.
“At my age, I just needed an opportunity to get on the court,” she said. “I am glad that’s where I started. But I am grateful for the opportunity to play for the varsity team. It’s been challenging me to improve myself.”
Notes
* Led by senior outside hitter Olivia Van Zelst, the Ramblers had a balanced offensive attack against St. Ignatius. Van Zelst finished with six kills. Senior outside hitter Christina Reed followed with five kills, Randolph added four kills and Ford contributed three kills.
* After the match, Chang made a point to recognize the play of junior middle Natasha Borkowski, who had two kills and two blocks. He said she acts as a decoy on offense, enabling space to open up for Loyola’s other hitters.
* Van Zelst had five digs and one block, while Randolph finished with 18 assists and nine digs.
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