Munster junior Lexi Pitsas admits that facing Elkhart Central star Azariah Stahl at Class 4A semistate two years ago was an eye-opening experience that helped her become the volleyball player she is today.
Pitsas, the only freshman player that Munster coach Tracy Summers has ever brought up to the varsity in her tenure at the school, played an integral part of the team’s success that season, which saw the Mustangs winning conference, sectional and regional titles.
But the freshman libero was overwhelmed at times against the stronger, more experienced Stahl as Elkhart Central won 27-25, 25-17, 24-26, 25-23 in the semifinals. It ended the Mustangs’ season at 34-4.
These days, Stahl is an outside hitter at Purdue, but Pistas still remembers that fateful meeting.
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“I will never forget that match,” Pitsas said. “First, it was an honor going against her but it was also very scary. I learned a lot emotionally and physically from that one. It was a tough experience but one to remember. It made me a better player, that’s for sure.”
For sure.
Pitsas already has verbally committed to play Division I volleyball at Northwestern University. The junior led her team to a third straight undefeated Northwest Crossroads Conference season.
She was even the go-ti person in last season’s huddles for sophomore teammates Alyssa Chronowski and Marijke Van Dyke as the Mustangs came back from a 2-1 deficit to win the 2014 sectional championship match against Lake Central.
“There was definitely pressure and some emotions going on inside me as a freshman. I was very nervous that first LC game (two years ago),” Pitsas said. “But I played with an awesome group of girls. They never made me feel like a freshman. I felt like I was a part of the team.
“They would tell me, ‘You can’t do anything about the past. You can only control the future.’ It was a different experience for me last year. I was very comfortable and I knew what some of my teammates were going through because it was new to them, so I was there to calm them down.”
Pitsas, whose recorded 242 digs, 90 assists and 29 aces as a junior, is looking for even more success in this year’s postseason.
Munster opens the sectional against East Chicago Central on Wednesday, then plays Highland at 10 a.m. Saturday morning and is likely to face Lake Central for the championship at 4 p.m.
Pitsas, who was sick when the Mustangs were beaten by the Indians in August, is geared up for Saturday’s possible championship match.
Summers looks forward to seeing how her team plays the Indians, too.
“Lexi is a stud defensive specialist and she’s definitely a difference-maker in our matches,” Summers said. “The flow of the game and comfortability playing next to each other is so much better with her on the court.
“Defensively, she is a special player. The way she moves and the body control she has is impressive for someone her age.”
Munster will be without one of its stars from last year’s sectional-championship win over LC. Van Dyke, who recorded 17 kills in the win over the Indians last October, is having season-ending shoulder surgery Tuesday. Senior Arielle Crowe will take her place.
“She is a really strong player and we are going to miss her,” Summers said of Van Dyke. “But people haven’t been able to scout the girl that is replacing her and years ago, I thought she was going to be my starting outside hitter.”
Pitsas also is confident in her senior teammate.
“We’re definitely going to miss Marijke — it is sad having her gone,” Pitsas said. “But having a senior on the outside is going to help. She’s such a great leader and will bring the fire so I ‘m excited for her. We want to (win this sectional) for (Van Dyke) and for the team.
“And one thing I learned is one player won’t make the difference. We are going to do the best we can to win.”
Ryan Haskell is a freelance writer for the Post-Tribune.
TOP 10
Last week’s ranking in parentheses.
1. Valparaiso (1)
2. Munster (2)
3. Lake Central (3)
4. Crown Point (4)
5. Bishop Noll (5)
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6. Lowell (6)
7. Andrean (7)
8. Hanover Central (9)
9. LaPorte (8)
10. Morgan Township (NR)
Player of the Week
Lake Central senior Tori Gardenhire recorded 32 kills, 36 digs, seven block kills and was 30-for-32 serving (6 aces) in her team’s runner-up finish at the Penn Invitational over the weekend. The Indians rolled off wins over Southwood, Northridge and Penn, but lost in the championship match to Lawrence North, 25-21, 22-25, 25-16.