Senior setter Grace Poynton and freshman setter Maggie Simon don’t have many Mama Bear and Baby Bear talks for Lincoln-Way East.
“Not all the time,” Poynton said, laughing. “Only when it’s needed.”
It was needed during Simon’s first varsity match.
“Oh, yes,” Simon said. “It was very intense, and my heart was beating fast. I didn’t know what to expect, so I was a little scared. Grace was there to calm me down, and I did well.”
They were a terrific tandem Thursday night for the Griffins in a 25-16, 25-21 SouthWest Suburban Blue victory over host Sandburg in Orland Park.
Jada James led Lincoln-Way East (29-6, 8-1) with seven kills. Ava Nepkin added four kills and five digs and Lexi Byas had 11 digs, while Simon notched 19 assists and Poynton had eight.
Claire Hildebrand paced Sandburg (20-15, 5-4) with six kills and eight digs. Elise Sterling added three kills and three blocks. Keira Fitzgerald chalked up 11 assists.
The Poynton-Simon setting combo marks a change for the Griffins. Last season, Poynton set a 5-1 offense and rarely left the floor.
Lincoln-Way East coach Kris Fiore took a different approach this summer.
“I felt that running a 6-2 offense would give us an opportunity to put another hitter on the floor,” Fiore said. “We thought that by having three hitters in the front row at all times, it could benefit us.
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“When Maggie came along, we moved her up pretty quickly to participate with us in the summer league. She fit right in. It seemed like she wouldn’t have any difficulty transitioning to the varsity level.”
She hasn’t. Simon, who is always the first on the floor, has 440 assists. Poynton has 295.
Together, they have helped James, Nepkin and sophomore Tamia Maddox become a Southland power-hitting trio.
“Grace has been my setter since we were in eighth grade,” Nepkin said. “But having Maggie in here has been a big help.
“Now, we can have two right-side hitters and utilize more offense. We also have that extra body just in case.”
In Thursday’s match, Simon was on the floor in the second game when the Griffins rallied from a 17-10 deficit to get within 18-16. Poyton delivered the final assist on a quick set to the middle that Hayven Smith pounded straight down.
Youth and experience have become a crisp combination.
“Honestly, it’s awesome playing with Maggie,” Poynton said. “She came in with so much energy. I knew this was going to be a good season and it was going to be fun to work with her.”
Poynton noticed Simon for the first time last season. Maggie was attending Lincoln-Way East matches to watch her older sister Annie play.
“I saw Maggie at a few tournaments and I was like, ‘Oh, I didn’t know that Annie had a younger sister,'” Poynton said. “Then in summer league, she joined us and she was so good.
“I knew she would help us out.”
Giving up half her playing time? No ego problem here.
“Running a 5-1 last season was a lot of work for me,” Poynton said. “This has helped a lot to tone out the responsibility. It’s just really helpful having her here.
“Everything runs smoothly with her. I think we do pretty good together.”
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For Simon, it’s been part excitement, part honor being a freshman making an difference.
“When I came in for the summer league, I always watched Grace,” Simon said. “She doesn’t know this, but she has always inspired me to get to where she is.
“I love this team. I love connecting with Grace and with everyone. Ava is literally amazing. Jada is amazing, and Hayven, and all the players. They have helped me through the season. From July when I first came in, I wanted to be here.”