It’s fairly common for a hitter in grammar school to get to high school and find out she’s too short for the front row, so she becomes a libero.
The story for Oak Forest senior Hailee Morin is the complete opposite.
Her freshman season, she played libero. But the 5-foot-7 Morin felt like a giant among her buddies in the back row.
“Yes I did,” Morin said, laughing. “Also, I felt that they were all a lot better than I was.”
A smart coaching staff — and her willingness to try something new — resulted in Morin becoming the program’s most consistent right-side hitter.
More Top Picks Best Organic Mattresses
She made the most of her chances Tuesday night in a 25-19, 25-16 victory over host Richards in a South Suburban Conference crossover in Oak Lawn.
Madison Scott led the Bengals (7-3, 2-0 SSC Blue) with five kills, while Iris Nesby added three kills and two blocks. Natalia Covarrubias contributed three kills, Ava Munoz chipped in with two, and Betty Redican had 17 assists and four aces.
Abby Witt paced Richards (1-12, 1-1 SSC Red) with two kills, an ace and six service points. Chloe Oros added a kill and an ace.
Morin, who is committed to Wisconsin Lutheran for softball, finished with two kills against the Bulldogs. She also served an ace near the end of the second game to help put it away.
For the season, she’s the team’s second-leading hitter behind Scott. She’s also in the mix for the best in serving points for Oak Forest coach Josh Balinao, who suggested Morin switch from libero to right-side hitter for one big reason.
“She’s very strong,” Balinao said of Morin. “She has always been one of my stronger players, just in terms of strength alone whether it be her serve or her swing.
“Normally on her serves, she has to drop an extra 10 feet back just to make sure it stays on the court instead of it going too far.”
Morin’s power was on full display in the spring. As a pitcher for the Bengals, she had 166 strikeouts. She also hit nine home runs and batted .406.
After the season, she was chosen as the South Suburban Blue’s player of the year. It put her in some rare air among Oak Forest pitchers like Emily Norton and Victoria Conley.
“It meant a lot to me,” Morin said. “We had a really good season. There were times it was hard being the only pitcher, but with all of my teammates behind me, getting through every game was amazing.
“Honestly, for how hard I worked, I feel I earned it.”
Standing up to challenges has been her way of life. It was never more evident than the one that Balinao gave her going into sophomore year of volleyball.
“It took some time to get my timing down,” Morin said. “It was definitely an adjustment. But I was able to do it with the help of my teammates.”
One of her biggest helpers was Redican, her best friend. Morin is one of her favorite setting targets. And she loves the fire.
More Top Picks Best All In One Printers For Home Offices
“I honestly would say Hailee can be a little vicious out there at times,” Redican said. “When she gets a good hit, she gets hyped. And when we get hyped, she gets hyped with us for sure.
“Right side is a very difficult place to hit. Outside, you can swing with your right hand right there. But on the right side, you have to let it cross your body and then swing. But she gets it done.”
Redican is positive that her best friend is a great softball player, but …
“I think I went to one game this year,” Redican said.
Huh?
“Well, I’m also in soccer, so I’m two sports too,” Redican said, laughing.
Fair enough.
Tony Baranek is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.