Caroline Impey knew she was going to play a bigger role for Naperville Central this season.
It may end up being bigger than anyone expected.
Impey, a 5-foot-9 junior, moved into the starting lineup as the Redhawks’ No. 2 outside hitter late last season. But senior outside hitter Makenna Devick‘s injury has given Impey an opportunity to make a larger impact.
“She didn’t secure that spot at the beginning of last season, but she worked incredibly hard to secure it toward the end of the season,” Naperville Central coach Brie Isaacson said. “She’s a hard worker, and you just sometimes can’t get that experience until you go through it. So she’s working through it.
“She’s got a great attitude, she’s a great kid and we expect that she’s going to do great things.”
Impey delivered a solid all-around performance against host Plainfield North on Wednesday, finishing with six kills, five service points, four digs and two blocks to help the Redhawks win 25-17, 25-19.
“I’ve gained a lot of confidence,” she said. “I love supporting everyone else no matter what happens during the game. It’s a lot of fun, honestly.”
The Redhawks (1-1) were swept by Wheaton Warrenville South in their season opener on Tuesday, so the road victory against Plainfield North (0-1) was an impressive bounce-back on short rest.
Embracing her role as Naperville Central’s de facto No. 1 outside hitter, Impey got her team going in each set. After senior setter Sarah Butler, an Austin Peay State commit, began the match with an ace, Impey spiked a pair of kills, including one on an overpass.
That was the beginning of an opening 12-3 run for the Redhawks, who blitzed Plainfield North to start the second set too. Butler served the first seven points, with Impey landing a pair of kills during the burst.
“She moved well to the ball,” Isaacson said of Impey. “She hit some shots for us that were hard to hit, and she looked like a seasoned veteran even though she wasn’t. I thought she did an awesome job tonight.”
Senior right-side hitter Georgia Von Lehmden, a 6-foot-1 San Jose State commit who led all players with seven kills, is the Redhawks’ only tall player with significant varsity experience. Players like Impey know they have to get crafty to be effective.
“I’ve worked a lot on my swing,” Impey said. “That’s what helps me a lot because I’m such a short outside, but I put a lot on my vertical and my swing. I like to show others that I can hit.”
First-year varsity players such as senior libero Kate Torti, who had eight service points, five digs and two assists against Plainfield North, have taken notice.
“Caroline is definitely a huge asset to our team,” Torti said. “She’s definitely an excellent player, and she definitely brings a lot to us because this is her second year on varsity.
“She’s adjusting to that role, and she’s been doing a great job helping all of us who are in their first year on varsity. We’ve been working together in practice, which really helps Caroline, and she played great tonight.”
It wasn’t just with hitting. Impey made an impressive one-arm dig to save a point that Naperville Central eventual won to take a 22-9 lead in the first set.
In the second set, Plainfield North used a 15-6 run to take a short-lived 15-13 lead. Sophomore middle Annabelle Kritzer answered for the Redhawks with a kill, and Impey followed with a game-tying block and later served the final five points of the match.
Impey’s emergence gives Naperville Central another valuable player outside their “big three” of Von Lehmden, Butler and Devick.
“I’m very comfortable,” Impey said. “I worked with the three of them last year, so now we kind of have a bond.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
