Good blockers are hard to come by, according to Loyola girls volleyball coach Mark Chang. But he’s got a really good one in sophomore right-side hitter Mary Kate Lopez.
“She’s got the height (6-foot-2) and she’s worked hard to get stronger,” Chang said. “She’s been performing at a high level. One of the best blockers we’ve had in a long time.”
Lopez is tied for second on the team with senior middle blocker Natasha Borkowski with 28 blocks. Sophomore middle blocker Elizabeth Ford leads the team with 36.
“When I get a block, I get a big smile on my face,” Lopez said. “I’m kind of on top of the world.”
Lopez has put the work in. She concentrated on strength work via weightlifting throughout the summer, performing hang cleans, front and back squats, dumbbell snatches, incline bench presses and three-way shoulder lifts. Chang credits the weightlifting for Lopez’s extra boost when jumping, allowing her to get her hands over the net for blocks. She also possesses a heavy hand when swinging at the net.
That was apparent during Loyola’s 20-25, 32-30, 25-23 Girls Catholic Athletic Conference loss at St. Ignatius on Thursday, Oct. 6, in Chicago. Lopez showed her versatility with five kills, two blocks and two assists. In the first set, Lopez rifled down back-to-back kills.
Senior right-side hitter Caroline Walker led the Ramblers (12-5, 2-3) with eight kills, while Ford had three blocks.
“Mary Kate is such a powerful blocker,” Ford said. “It’s such a huge asset to have for our team. She’s always helping us defensively.”
Lopez was a setter for the Wildcat Juniors Volleyball Club and is quick to credit her teammates for helping her with her technique at the net, since being a right-side hitter is fairly new to her.
“I just started hitting a year ago,” Lopez said. “I really enjoy doing both. But I’ve always blocked.”
Lopez makes a long trip in from her hometown of Mount Prospect to Loyola’s Wilmette campus, but she said it’s all worth it since she wanted to play volleyball for the Ramblers.
Chang said he’s really looking forward to two more years of working with Lopez as she continues to improve.
“It’s very exciting and encouraging for the program,” Chang said.
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Mark Perlman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @markdavidperlma