Junior outside hitter Alayna Pierce packs a powerful punch for Genoa-Kingston.
And even if the opposing defense is properly set up to block the Tennessee Tech recruit, coach Keith Foster still feels confident the Cogs will win the point.
“Even if you do get her, she’s got a hammer of a swing,” Foster said. “If you’re going to block her, you better block her with everything you’ve got.”
Foster credits a wide variety of shots for helping Pierce already surpass her totals in kills and digs from last year with one regular-season match and playoffs still to come.
Pierce has 355 kills and 226 digs this season for Genoa-Kingston (30-4).
“She’s been dedicated to the game for a long time,” Foster said. “Her IQ, knowing what to do and when to do it, that sets her apart.
“She has so many different shots in her tool chest that she’s tough to stop.”
Pierce pointed out playing club for Fusion has prepared her for these moments.
“I worked on learning new shots and put a ton of time in with my coaches,” Pierce said. “I feel like I’ve increased my game a little bit, but it’s the help of my teammates.
“We’ve all improved because of each other.”
The results have shown for the Cogs, who are 8-0 in conference.
Playing against larger schools last weekend in the Blocktober Fest Tournament at Plainfield Central, Genoa-Kingston took sixth, losing only to Class 4A Bolingbrook and perennial 3A state power St. Francis.
It’s all by design for Foster, who’s willing to sacrifice the regular-season record in exchange for toughening up his team for the postseason.
Wins against 4A schools like Bartlett, Hampshire, St. Charles North, South Elgin and Wheaton North highlight the Cogs’ beefed-up schedule.
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“None of our girls are worried about our record,” Foster said. “We want to play under pressure. We’ve been able to get that … we feel confident we’re the better team on the court.”
Playing that schedule and high-level club volleyball has Pierce and her teammates ready for the playoffs.
The Cogs earned the top seed in the 2A Winnebago Sectional. They open the postseason at 6 p.m. Tuesday against either Rosary or Wheaton Academy at the Class 2A Rosary Regional.
“It helps with the schedule strength because we have more experience in tough games,” Pierce said. “We know that feeling. If we are in that situation, we’re ready for it.
“All my teammates, too. We all play club and play at a competitive level.”
Pierce’s work as a sophomore earned her a Division I verbal commitment.
Shortly after coaches were allowed to start contacting players on June 15, Tennessee Tech came calling for Pierce. After a visit, she committed in August to the Golden Eagles.
“I loved talking on the phone to the coaches,” Pierce said. “Then we scheduled a visit and went down there, and I fell in love with the school. I love the people there and everything about it.
“My grandparents live nearby, so I kind of knew the area.”
Pierce still has time until she’s on that campus for good, however.
The Cogs are poised to bring home state hardware for the first time. They have been limited to three regional titles in program history.
Pierce said the Cogs are merely focused on what’s in front of them, though.
“We’d like to do well, but we just look to the next game,” Pierce said. “We only focus on the game in front of us. We don’t want to focus too much on the future.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for the Beacon-News.