Arizona State recruit Holbrook finishing strong for Joliet Catholic
Entering 3A semifinals, outside hitter a force with 54 kills in playoffs
When senior Emily Holbrook steps on the court Friday to compete for Joliet Catholic in the Class 3A state semifinals, it will be a perfect career bookend.
It will also fulfill a dream the Arizona State recruit had while sitting on the bench at Redbird Arena as a freshman.
“I got pulled up toward the end of that season for the playoffs,” Holbrook said. “I practiced with them, but didn't get into a match.
“It was awesome just being a part of that team at state. I really looked up to the upperclassmen and told myself I wanted to be a leader like that my senior year.”
Holbrook, a 5-foot-8 outside hitter, has been all that and more for the Angels (27-13), who will meet Sterling (39-1) at 4 p.m. in the first semifinal.
In five playoff matches, Holbrook has 54 kills, including 18 against Champaign Central and 16 against Normal U-High in the sectional semifinals and finals, respectively.
In the U-High match, she was nothing short of a season saver.
The Angels trailed 17-13 in Game 3 before rallying for a 25-23, 21-25, 25-20 victory. Holbrook, meanwhile, had a finishing kick for the ages.
Of her final 14 swings, 11 went for kills. She made no hitting errors.
“I just thought that no matter what size block was in front of me, I wasn't going to be denied,” Holbrook said. “I was just going to go out there and do my role and do everything for my team.
“My adrenaline was at an all-time high. I feel everyone
else’s was as well. And we had the heart to pull through at the end.”
Holbrook was an Angel at heart long before she stepped through the doors as a student, according to coach Christine Scheibe.
“She is just a player who has had her sights on playing at JCA since fifth or sixth grade,” Scheibe said. “She always came to my camps and it has always been a dream of hers to be an Angel and play.
“To see her taking a leadership role as a senior and not let anyone deny her is an inspiration to her teammates and to me as a coach. She isn’t going to let anybody down.”
Joliet Catholic has overcome a series of injuries and position changes to play its best volleyball of the season. Sophomore Jillian Gray turned an emergency move to outside hitter into a spark for the Angels’ offense. Junior Bella Ray has emerged as a mega-effective middle hitter and blocker.
Changes? Holbrook looks at them as challenges.
“I’ve dealt with situations like that before, and I feel that it shouldn’t have an effect on how you go about things,” Holbrook said.
“I think it motivated us more for everyone to do their role in whatever position they were placed at.
“We just think, ‘This is my role now. This is what I’m contributing to.’ ”
Joliet Catholic is making its 12th state appearance overall and is seeking its fourth state championship under Scheibe. The Angels finished second in 2015.
The match with Sterling gives Joliet Catholic a chance at revenge.
In a 25-19, 19-25, 25-19 loss to Sterling on Aug. 25, the Angels made 14 hitting errors, five serving errors, eight block errors, three setting errors and five serve-receive errors.
“Way too many (mistakes),” Scheibe said. “Now, we are a totally different team than when we played them the first time. It could be anybody’s match.”
Belleville Althoff (36-4) and Latin (35-2) will meet in the other semifinal match.
“Every team down there is good,” Scheibe said. “I think it’s going to be a combination of which teams can minimize errors and show the most heart.”