Naperville Central middle hitter Sophia Zanca hasn’t gotten any taller since the beginning of her three-year varsity career, but she has grown in other ways.
The 6-foot-2 senior has emerged as a major force for the Redhawks.
“Oh, my gosh, she’s improved so much,” Naperville Central junior setter Sarah Butler said. “She’s really stepped up this year. She completes our team.”
A kill by Butler completed Naperville Central’s 25-15, 25-20 nonconference win against West Aurora on Monday. But it was Zanca’s dominant play at the net that propelled the Redhawks.
The Dartmouth-bound Zanca led all players with eight kills and two blocks. She spiked several of her kills with an authority rarely seen from a middle.
“I feel like right now I’ve been hammering down those hits, really connecting with my setter and being super aggressive,” Zanca said. “That’s what I love doing — working hard on approaches, attacking any type of set.”
Those efforts haven’t gone unappreciated.
“She’s so easy to work with,” said Butler, who had 12 assists and two aces Monday. “I feel like no matter where the set is at, she’s able to work with it, which is nice as a setter. If I don’t have the best set, she’s able to work with it no matter what. It’s so much fun.”
After two rebuilding seasons, the Redhawks (7-6) are poised to have more fun with a lineup that includes two Division I commits in Zanca and junior opposite Georgia Von Lehmden, a San Jose State recruit. Butler and junior outside Makenna Devick also are being recruited by Division I programs.
“We’re setting ourselves up for success,” Zanca said. “We’re working super hard in the gym. We’re always on our ‘A’ game. We want the best for our team.”
Zanca has a reputation for bringing her best effort, and not just on the court. She said she has a weighted 4.6 GPA and loves writing and biology. Now it’s taking her to the Ivy League.
“I’ve always been a super hard worker both on the court and in the classroom,” Zanca said. “I’ve always tried to be really accomplished in both.
“I’ve always been looking to play at a great DI school that has a great academic program as well. I’m so excited to be able to play at Dartmouth. It’s my dream.”
Naperville Central coach Brie Isaacson isn’t surprised to see Zanca realize that dream.
“She’s smart in the classroom, a great teammate on the court,” Isaacson said. “She’s really the full package.”
Isaacson has been touting Zanca for a while, but the dominance has been a recent development. Part of that is due to the position she plays.
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“Middles can only be effective with quality passing, so sometimes if serve-receive breaks down, we lose her in that,” Isaacson said. “This season as a whole we’ve passed well enough to keep her active.
“And she’s super aggressive and willing to take chances. Sometimes she makes an error doing it, and she comes back on the very next play, and that’s going to help her in college as well.”
West Aurora (9-11) found that out and had no answer for it. Zanca had a block and three consecutive kills to give the Redhawks an early lead in the first set, which she finished with a kill.
In the second set, the Blackhawks tied it at 8-8 on a hitting error by Zanca, but she succeeded on her next attack two points later.
“From last year to this year, I’ve learned a lot of leadership, a lot of integrity,” Zanca said. “I’ve worked on becoming a person that is a staple for my team.”
Zanca is succeeding in that too.
“She’s gotten better every year, and I think she’s found a little bit of confidence,” Isaacson said. “When she has those big points, everybody feels it, and it allows other kids to kind of step in and have roles too.
“It’s been fun to watch her grow these last three years.”
Zanca said the best could be yet to come for the Redhawks.
“It’s all about building momentum,” she said. “I feel like we’re talking about that a lot, coming out strong right away. Once that happens, it kind of takes off from there.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.