Coming into this season, senior outside hitter Scarlett Dickerson was more excited than anyone when Jessa Henry was named St. Charles East’s coach.
With the history the two share, it’s not hard to see why Dickerson was pumped up by the prospect, considering that Henry was Dickerson’s first volleyball coach at age 12.
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“It’s a very full-circle moment because she was my first-ever volleyball coach and my last before I leave to go play in college,” Dickerson said. “We’ve known each other for a very long time.
“I feel like I’ve grown a lot and she’s grown a lot in the last few years.”
Dickerson and the Saints kept up their resurgent season with a 25-23, 25-21 nonconference win Wednesday at South Elgin. Dickerson tied Emma Phillips for team-high honors with 12 kills.
Francesca Fevold and Nora Lange added three kills apiece for St. Charles East (21-7). Lange also contributed a pair of blocks.
Camryn Boyd paced South Elgin (15-12) with 10 kills. Perla LaVergne and Arissa Williams each had four kills, while Kate Fenner finished with three blocks and two kills.
Henry, who recognizes how unique the dynamic with Dickerson is, has been happy to see her develop into a college athlete. Dickerson is committed to NCAA Division III Union in New York.
“I think she’s always been just a great kid,” Henry said of Dickerson. “She’s always team first. Since the first time I met her as a little 12-year-old, she’s always exemplified that.
“She’s really honed in that it’s not about me, it’s about the team and making the team better.”
Henry pointed to the fact that Dickerson generally only plays three of the six rotations as an example of her team-first mentality. When she’s on the court, however, she’s dangerous.
“She’s a phenomenal hitter,” Henry said of Dickerson. “When we’re in rotation one, she’s always a go-to. She will always find a way. She’s probably one of the most selfless kids ever.
“She’s the first kid in the gym, last one out. She’s an awesome teammate. She’s always trying to pick up the person next to her and work hard for her teammates. She’s a great example of what a senior in this program should be.”
Dickerson wasted no time making an impact Wednesday. The Saints raced out to an 8-1 lead in the first game and Dickerson had three kills in that run.
“I really focus on making an impact in those three rotations,” Dickerson said. “I always think before I go out, ‘I need to get a kill. I have to get this point before going out.’”
South Elgin roared back, and it was the block that helped them close the gap.
Fenner has emerged as statistically one of the best blockers in the area with 57. She helped lead a comeback that saw the Storm take a 23-20 lead before eventually falling 25-23.
“She kind of caught us back up there,” South Elgin coach Jesse Bossenga said. “Kate has been doing that all year.
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“We did a great job. Two good teams and this is the time of year you’re trying to ramp up and play that kind of volleyball. It’s a good preview of what it’s going to take when you get to regionals.”
Dickerson, meanwhile. is happy that she’ll be continuing her career after this season ends.
Her goal is to become a lawyer. She said she always wanted to go to college on the East Coast and found the perfect fit at Union.
“My No. 1 priority was always high academics,” Dickerson said. “I’ve always prided myself on being a good student.
“There are a lot of high-academic Division III schools out there that I can make an impact at but also get a really good education. Union happened to be one of them.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.