An injury to star outside hitter Kira Hutson, a big-time Florida recruit, thrust Camille Morrison unexpectedly into the spotlight last season for Metea Valley.
This year, though, Morrison is enjoying the limelight as a senior outside hitter.
It’s been quite a change.
“It’s definitely different,” Morrison said. “I’ve usually been in more of a supportive role. Now, I’m more of a leader. I was voted by my teammates as a captain this year.
“I’m really grateful for that. I’m glad for the adjustment, and I think it will serve me well.”
Morrison showed she was ready for anything Tuesday night as the host Mustangs pulled out a 25-11, 22-25, 25-17 nonconference victory over Oswego East in Aurora.
After dominating the first game, Metea dropped the second and was in a close fight in the third. That was before Morrison put down five straight kills to gain control.
“I think it’s more knowing that it’s my time,” Morrison said. “I have that kind of mentality in tight games. I want the ball set to me so I can make a difference and help my team.
“I think as a captain, it’s my role to lead the team in difficult times.”
Morrison finished with 16 kills for the Mustangs (6-1). Ashley Ward added eight kills, nine digs and 25 assists.
Meetings with Morrison during the sectional last season and in the preseason this summer helped Metea coach Dave Macdonald get her in the current mindset.
“She’s been great,” Macdonald said. “She’s our go-to. Everyone knows it. She’s been able to kind of live in the shadows the past two years. She’s been amazing.
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“She really started to come alive in our sectional semifinal match against Naperville North. That’s the ‘it’ factor everyone keeps talking about with her. She can see that this season.”
Morrison had a similar run to close out a dominant first game for the Mustangs. She had four kills and a block among the final seven points for Metea.
Oswego East (0-4) didn’t go away however. Alison Coy led the Wolves with seven kills. Paige Nottke added four.
“Oswego East is a good team,” Macdonald said. “They’ve got some good young players. We exploited that early on. They settled down, to their credit, and kind of changed it up a little bit on us.
“We started to relax a little bit and get on our heels instead of continuing to push forward. The second set was a little bit uncharacteristic for us.”
Oswego East fell behind 18-14 in the second game but put together a furious rally to win and force a third. Riley Trefny tallied two aces and Jessica Lavigne had two kills in that run.
“We had a lot of sophomores on the court,” Oswego East coach Dina Beamon said. “Actually seeing them dig deep and show the potential that this program has and the potential they have individually was really good to see.
“That’s a tough team. We came to fight. It shows them what they can do.”
Those are the types of positive steps a coach wants. Just don’t say the Wolves are rebuilding.
“I think everyone kind of sees us in a rebuilding phase,” Beamon said. “However, I hate to use that word. I think we are in a learning phase. We are going to get better every day.”
Macdonald’s meetings with Morrison, meanwhile, have stuck with her. And she’s putting it into practice on the court.
“It was really helpful to have your head coach pull you aside,” Morrison said. “I’ve been thinking about that going into the season. I think that really helped me.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.