Libertyville sophomore outside hitter Emerson Zovistoski intended to increase her vertical jump during the offseason.
But the 5-foot-10 Zovistoski leaped all the way from the freshman team to the Wildcats’ starting lineup.
“Last year, I looked up to them and would go, ‘Wow, I really wish to be on that team someday,’” she said. “Now it’s that day, and I’m on that team.
“It’s really amazing. It’s definitely surprising to see me play at a high level so young.”
At this point, every match is a higher level for Zovistoski, who made her playoff debut last week. During the Class 4A Hampshire Sectional championship match on Thursday, she was indispensable. She landed four kills in front of the host Whip-Purs’ crowd as the Wildcats won 25-23, 25-18 in a showdown between top seeds.
“I was so locked in and not thinking of anything else,” Zovistoski said. “It was just about what was happening before me right now.”
Senior outside hitter Claire Evans contributed a team-high 11 kills, six digs and two aces for Libertyville (32-7), which won its fifth sectional title under coach Greg Loika and will play Fremd in the DeKalb Supersectional at 6 p.m. Monday. Junior libero Charlie Fleegle had 14 digs, and junior setter Mairead Fleming had 11 assists.
Zovistoski, who also had two digs and a block against Hampshire (31-6), delivered two vital kills during a three-point stretch as the Wildcats took a 22-19 lead in the first game.
“She was clutch tonight with a few key kills for us,” Loika said. “That was huge for us. We were about out of subs, and if we would’ve gone a few more points, we would’ve had people in positions that wouldn’t have been ideal, so it was awesome by her. That also gave us momentum going into set two.”
Evans knows something about making a difference against Hampshire. Zovistoski has impressed her.
“She played great, and we’ve seen so much improvement from last season,” Evans said. “She’s swinging aggressively. It’s amazing to see her development.”
Loika said Zovistoski had a tough outing against Dundee-Crown in the regional semifinals but responded with six kills and four digs against Jacobs in the next match.
“Emerson had a shaky start to the playoffs,” Loika said. “She was a little nervous. It was her first playoff experience. She finished the game strong and was clutch in the regional final.”
Fleegle said she tried to help Zovistoski overcome any jitters.
“I pulled her aside and reinstilled that trust in her and that I believed in her no matter what and she’s on the team for a reason,” Fleegle said. “She’s a starting six on a high-level team like us. She’s done a great job ever since.”
Loika said Zovistoski was a surprise addition over the summer but has helped the Wildcats overcome the graduations of several key players who reached a sectional championship match last season.
“She worked like crazy and developed her game,” Loika said. “She came into the summer after a great club season and earned the position.”
Libertyville junior defensive specialist Ella Obourn said Zovistoski hasn’t slowed down.
“Emerson always brings great energy onto the court and is so supportive of her team,” Obourn said. “She works so hard in practice, and she’s always smiling.”
Zovistoski, who started playing volleyball in seventh grade, said she plans to take her workouts to another level after this season.
“I’m so excited for the future,” she said. “I’m going to keep working and putting in the hours to get better.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.