It isn’t the first time Munster senior Lexi Pitsas has been put in this position.
And Mustangs coach Tracy Summers said her libero flourishes each time she’s asked to step up and play outside hitter.
Pitsas, who committed to Northwestern her sophomore season, was switched to the outside for Munster entering the playoffs last year when Marijke Van Dyke was sidelined with an injury.
Then early this season, she was asked to step up again when sophomore Madison Horin went down with an ankle injury.
Pitsas loves the challenge.
“I had to do it for club this past season because one of our outside hitters from Puerto Rico got homesick.” Pitsas said. “I like the position because I get to stay on the court the whole time.
“And we play a lineup with three outside hitters that nobody else does. We get to mix it up in the front row and it gives us a lot of opportunities.”
The 5-foot-5 Pitsas won’t be playing outside hitter in college, so she is reveling in the moment. She recorded 12 kills and 13 digs in last week’s win over Northwest Crossroads rival Lowell.
“Lexi is an athlete,” Summers said. “If I needed her to set, she could set. She can play any position and she can play that position well. When Marijke went out, I had to come up with an emergency plan and Lexi played an awesome outside for us.
“She’s more confident this year and she’s definitely a smart player. People like us (Summers is 5-7) who aren’t 6-foot tall have to be crafty and see all the holes.”
Pitsas will continue to play outside hitter when Horin returns, while Maddie Foley will keep digging balls as the Mustangs’ libero. Pitsas has a ton of faith in her senior teammate.
“Maddie is also on my club team so she had to step up and play libero when I went to the outside,” Pitsas said. “She does an amazing job.”
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Summers said Munster has played more as a team this season. She’s expecting big things from the Mustangs, who have won four straight NCC titles but lost to Lake Central in sectionals last season.
“The team motto is synergy. They realize each part by itself isn’t as great as the parts of a whole,” Summers said. “We need to have better communication, team work and energy.
“Our goals are big. We understand Crown Point is very good this year. But we believe if we play our best we can beat them and if we get a chance to play again (in the regional title match), it’s going to be an amazing match.”
Nothing has changed: Despite having three coaches in four years, Andrean continues to be one of the top teams in the Region. Sophomore Serena Wagner had nine kills and 13 assists Thursday as the 59ers (11-1, 2-0) beat Kankakee Valley in Northwest Crossroads action.
Hurdle one: Crown Point lost both of its Duneland Athletic matches last season against Lake Central. But the Bulldogs are the favorite to win conference this year.
Crown Point beat Indians 25-16, 25-17, 25-20 — proving how the Bulldogs are ready to do just that. Setter Alex Equuihua led with 26 assists, while senior Morgan Chacon had 12 kills and 12 digs.
Ryan Haskell is a freelance writer for the Post-Tribune.