When senior setter Lainey Green sets her mind to do something, she doesn’t give up for Lockport.
Even when it comes to waving to an official.
The Northern Kentucky recruit waved once. Twice. Three times. She did it a few more times as well Wednesday night until the up official finally noticed and waved back.
“I just had to make sure he knew me,” Green said, smiling. “When we go to talk after an issue on the court, I always go up there. It’s always me.”
Green was just as relentless in helping lead Lockport to a 25-14, 25-17 nonconference victory over host Providence in New Lenox.
Bridget Ferriter paced the Porters (24-8) with nine kills. Kyla Mitchell added five kills, while Green finished with 20 assists and three aces.
Providence (23-12) was led by Abbey Knight with four kills. Payton Mandac had two kills and an ace.
Green came out of the blocks strong against the Celtics, serving for an ace on the first rally and adding two more during a 6-0 run. At setter, she had the Porters’ 5-1 offense running in rhythm the entire way.
Running a 5-1? She’s been determined to do it since well before Lockport coach Nick Mraz handed her the job this summer.
“I’ve been pushing for it for the past two years,” Green said, beaming. “I know what I’m doing because I’ve run it in club. But last season, we had weapons we needed to use, so I was totally OK with running the 6-2.”
In 2022, Green had 495 assists and earned all-area honors. This season, she’s up to 596 assists.
“Her sophomore year, she was our second setter across,” Mraz said. “Last season, she was our first setter across. Now she’s running the show. She’s done a really good job her senior year. She’s earning it.”
Green has been influential in helping Mitchell have great success in her freshman season. Mitchell has 130 kills and a team-leading 62 blocks.
“She’s just really supportive of me,” Mitchell said of Green. “Even when I make mistakes, I know I can count on her to get behind me. She was there for me from the first day, just cheering me on and helping me calm down.”
Like a big sister.
“Yeah, Kyla really is my baby sister,” Green said. “She is best friends with my younger sister, and she is over at my house literally every day. I’m with her even more than I am with my own sister.”
Green also is there for the team, even when maybe she shouldn’t be.
During a Sept. 12 match against Plainfield Central, Green was in the front row when an opposing player fell under the net — and on her left foot.
Green grimaced but got up. She was determined to finish the match.
“I think it was the adrenaline that really pushed me through,” Green said. “Afterward, when I took my shoe off, oh, it hurt really, really bad.
“When I went to get some tape for the next day, the trainer was there. He told me I needed to go immediately and get it checked out.”
The diagnosis was a high ankle sprain. Green wore a boot for four days and missed two matches.
Senior teammate Megan Cosigny was part of the welcome back crew when Green returned to the lineup.
“We know she’s a key part of our team, so we all did our best to get her back,” Cosigny said. “We had some people who stepped up and it went fine, but we were very glad when she was back.
“I’ve been friends with Lainey since we were 5. I’ve seen so much develop in her. She used to be so quiet, and she’s super open now. She’s always prepared. I can always look at her and feel calm when I’m on the court.”