‘Ultimate happiness’
Two years after serious injury, Lake Central outside hitter Krueger thrives on court again
There may be no place that Lake Central junior Caroline Krueger enjoys more than the volleyball court.
“It’s my favorite thing in the world,” she said. “It’s my ultimate happiness. I started playing when I was 12 and never looked back.”
Perhaps those feelings developed while the 6-foot outside hitter spent nearly a year away from the court after tearing the meniscus and ACL in her right knee during the final match of her freshman season.
After an abbreviated sophomore season, Krueger has played in all of Lake Central’s matches this fall and will be counted on as one of the Indians’ top offensive threats when they begin the postseason in the Class 4A Munster Sectional on Thursday.
The two-year anniversary of Krueger’s injury was Tuesday, a date forever etched in her mind. She returned to play in a match against Munster on Sept. 16, 2019. Those 11 months away from the court helped Krueger find perspective.
“The recovery process was really hard, and I had to work to play at the high level I came from,” Krueger said. “But it helped me realize how much I loved volleyball. It made me a better teammate and gave me a stronger mental game.”
Lake Central coach Matt Clark said the only thing that held Krueger back last season was her delayed arrival.
“It wasn’t that she didn’t look like the player she was,” Clark said. “She was just in midseason form, while everyone else was in end-of-season form.”
That hasn’t been an issue this season. Krueger is second on the team with 208 kills.
Clark also said there was a noticeable difference in Krueger’s physical abilities after she returned from the injury.
“It definitely helped,” Clark said. “It’s hard to find that good, explosive arm that puts the other team off-balance. She brings a little more pop now.”
Lake Central (18-10) could play Munster (28-2) in the sectional final Saturday night if the Indians advance beyond the first two rounds. But that’s not the only part of Krueger’s volleyball future that’s been on her mind.
Between her play at Lake Central and with her club, Epic United, in the offseason, Krueger has been drawing interest from multiple Division I colleges, although she said it was too early to name any specific programs.
“I know I’m going to play at the Division I level,” Krueger said. “But I’m not sure where yet.
Because of the pandemic, it’s been hard to get to campuses.”
But all that next-level interest hasn’t kept Krueger from focusing on the present.
“I’m happy, but I’m never going to be satisfied,” Krueger said. “I have so many goals for right now and for the future. I want to keep pushing myself to be the best athlete I can be.”
Welcome returns: Andrean should be back at full strength when it plays in a Class 2A sectional semifinal on Saturday morning.
Andrean coach Grant Bell returned to the sidelines last week after missing two weeks following a positive COVID-19 test. Junior setter and captain Maddie Kmetz also is expected back this week after missing the final two weeks of the regular season.
Bell said the 59ers haven’t shown any rust despite those absences.
“We’ve looked pretty good in practice the last few days,” he said. “I think they’re ready to go.”
The 59ers (13-4) will meet the winner of Thursday’s match between Bishop Noll and Whiting.
Schedule shuffle: Sectional pairings around the state have been affected by teams withdrawing from the tournament. That includes the Class 1A Washington Township Sectional, where the host Senators and Covenant Christian both withdrew from the first round. Morgan Township and Marquette advanced to the semifinals of that sectional, which has been moved to Morgan Township.