Benet senior Peyton Turner isn’t afraid to work hard.
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She knows that’s the only way to get any playing time on a crowded back line. While most teams have one libero and perhaps one or two other defensive specialists, Benet has five liberos.
“I just see volleyball as a big competition, and what happens, happens,” Turner said. “So don’t get down on it. I’m happy for my libero. She’s insane.”
Aniya Warren is one of the top liberos in the state. She earned the starting role as a freshman last season, while Turner was relegated to spot duty off the bench at defensive specialist in her first varsity season.
Now Turner is starting at defensive specialist for the Redwings (16-1), playing beside Warren.
“Peyton has done great,” Warren said. “It’s great to play with her. She’s just really fun to have in the backcourt. With us together, it’s good to have a solid defense back there.”
Defense isn’t for everybody, but the 5-foot-4 Turner literally digs it.
“It’s so satisfying,” she said. “When a hitter is really good and they just slam it down and they don’t expect it to come back, and it does, it’s so rewarding.”
Although Turner has had to work her way up the ranks, she is reaping the rewards. She has committed to play at Texas-San Antonio and can join a long line of Benet defenders to play at the Division I level.
“Peyton works extremely hard and wants to do well,” Benet coach Brad Baker said. “Sometimes I feel like she’s too hard on herself. Sometimes I’m like, ‘Hey, you deserve it, be nice to yourself.’ She really wants to be perfect, which is a great attribute, but you’ve got to celebrate some successes too.”
The Redwings have had plenty of successes this season, and Turner has played a big role. She got to wear the libero jersey Monday, when Baker moved Warren to outside hitter to give a couple of the starting hitters some rest.
Turner responded with a terrific effort, leading her team with 20 digs, 10 service points and three aces to help the host Redwings hold off upset-minded Neuqua Valley 25-23, 25-27, 25-23.
The Redwings had hammered Neuqua 25-7, 25-14 last week at the Wheaton Classic, which Benet went on to win. But senior outside hitter Bryanna Jones had 16 kills and senior setter Skylar Fildew had 13 service points, nine assists and four aces as the Wildcats (7-6) took the Redwings to the limit Monday.
“They wanted to beat us really bad,” said Turner, who also had two assists, including one on Warren’s clinching kill. “We had a completely different lineup from our tournament, and we just had to learn to adjust. We had some miscommunication, but we got better.”
Warren and Turner will go back to their usual roles, but both enjoyed the change of pace.
“It was something different, and I had a great time,” Warren said.
So did Turner.
“It was honestly really nice to be back in the libero jersey,” she said. “It’s been a couple months, since club season. We’re just really well-rounded, so we can do anything (Baker) tells us to do.”
Turner was the libero on her Sports Performance club team that won a national championship. She said she hopes to play libero in college but is comfortable anywhere on the back row.
“You just have more say on the court at libero,” she said. “At DS, you’re just there to dig the ball, serve receive and not make any errors. With libero, there is more room to play your game and be your own person.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
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