A few Christmases ago, Lincoln-Way West’s Brooklynn Voss and her twin sister, Bailey, were getting ready to open a huge present. There was only one problem, however.
They really had no idea what it was.
“It was a big box and we both opened it half and half,” Brooklyn said. “We were guessing what it was, but we were not right. I thought it was a trampoline.”
It turned out to be a volleyball net for the backyard. They have put it to good use the past couple of summers.
“It was definitely one of the best presents we received,” Brooklynn said. “It helps out playing on the harder ground because it’s harder to jump and get around and helps with the dynamics on the court.”
Brooklynn Voss was dynamite on the court Wednesday night. The sophomore outside hitter had 13 kills and eight digs as the host Warriors battled to a 18-25, 25-16, 25-23 nonconference win over Oswego East in New Lenox.
Kaylea Armstrong added nine kills for Lincoln-Way West (10-10), while Emma Novotny tallied four kills and four blocks. Elena Mason contributed 18 digs, with Kelsey Boros chalking up 18 assists and Cailyn Smith chipping in with 13.
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Tori Vlcek led the way with 13 kills for Oswego East (5-13), which dropped a 20-25, 25-18, 15-7 decision to the Warriors on Aug. 29 at the Mizuno Crimson Classic in Aurora.
On Wednesday night, the 5-foot-11 Voss was a difference maker with seven kills in a third game that was tied 10 times after Lincoln-Way West grabbed a 10-9 lead.
“I just saw where the block was and I tried to tool it,” she said. “I was trying to find their openings instead of trying to swing as hard as I could.”
Three of Voss’ kills in the match came from the back row.
“It really helps when you have good setters,” Voss said. “They set you up where you want it.”
Jodi Frigo, a veteran boys volleyball coach at Lincoln-Way West who’s in her first year as the girls coach for the Warriors, confirmed she gave upperclassmen the chance at the start of the season.
After the Warriors went 3-7, Frigo began to mix in some of the underclassmen, including Voss.
“Brooklyn didn’t get a lot of opportunities to play at the beginning of the year,” Frigo said. “But she’s been improving in practice to get more confident in her skills and not play like a sophomore.
“She’s been earning her time, and the last couple of games, she has shown us she’s one of our key players and someone to get the ball to.”
Novotny put on a blocking show throughout the match and helped put away the nail-biter. After Oswego East took a 23-22 lead, she produced two kills and combined on the match-winning block.
“One of our goals was to feed our middles,” Frigo said. “We weren’t doing it as of late. I wanted to see what it looked like and they were ready and available.”
Bailey Voss, a sophomore setter/right-side hitter, also has been a contributor in some big wins recently for the Warriors. She picked up four kills and eight assists in a 14-25, 25-17, 25-20 win on Sept. 22 over SouthWest Suburban Conference foe Homewood-Flossmoor. The next night, Bailey matched Brooklynn’s five kills in a 21-25, 25-20, 25-19 victory over crosstown rival Providence.
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Brooklynn pointed out that she’s excited to see how the rest of the regular season plays out for Lincoln-Way West with that combination of youth and experience.
“I like how the underclassmen, including my sister and me, have stepped up and how the senior are helping out as well,” she said. “I think we can go far.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.