Keira O’Donnell didn’t need much time to get acclimated to her new environs at Benet.
The 6-foot-1 senior outside hitter has fit right in since transferring from Lemont.
“I love playing with these girls,” O’Donnell said. “I’ve played with some of them before (in club), and it’s really nice here. Everybody is super welcoming, and academically it was a nice challenge as well.”
O’Donnell was the top hitter for Lemont last season. The Southern Mississippi commit had 377 kills to go with 257 digs and 18 blocks and was named the South Suburban Blue player of the year.
Playing for Benet creates a greater opportunity for winning but also bigger challenges for O’Donnell, who goes from being the leading star at Lemont to merely one in a constellation. The Redwings start the season with 10 Division I commits among available players.
“Hopefully she becomes even better because when you’re ‘it,’ everyone is looking at you,” Benet coach Brad Baker said. “She’s not going to have that pressure to just carry the load. She’s going to have to carry the load at times — outsides do — but we’re hopefully going to be able to spread it around.
“That’s what makes us great because we have options to spread it around and you have to worry about more than one person.”
The job of spreading the ball around belongs to junior setter Ellie Stiernagle, a Northwestern commit who is thrilled to have O’Donnell on her side.
“I was super excited that we got another one,” Stiernagle said. “She’s bringing a big arm to this team. She’s a very strong hitter. So it just makes the gym more competitive, and that’s how we want it.”
Baker wants to have as many versatile players as possible and said O’Donnell, who played middle hitter up until two years ago, fits the bill.
“We needed an outside hitter,” Baker said. “She hits the ball extremely hard, and her volleyball IQ is really, really high. She’s only been playing outside for a couple years, but she really sees the game well.
“Obviously, she’s a great athlete, being able to make that transition from middle, and above all she’s a really nice kid, and the girls love her. We’re really happy she’s here.”
O’Donnell is happy to be at Benet, where she reunites with former club teammates Aniya Warren and Gabby Stasys, with whom she played two years ago. O’Donnell also played with twins Audrey and Morgan Asleson when they were 12-year-olds.
“It’s awesome,” O’Donnell said. “Just having everybody at the same level is just amazing. I feel like everybody has each other’s backs here. We’re all very competitive, so it’s very nice.”
After losing to Mother McAuley in the Class 4A state championship match in each of the past two seasons, the Redwings are determined to win the state title. In O’Donnell, they have added another player with the mindset and athleticism to constantly improve.
That is evidenced by O’Donnell’s play on defense last season, when she led Lemont in digs. Not bad for a former middle, but she said she has gotten a lot of tips from her aunt, Jessica Strama, who played for McNeese State and holds the NCAA Division I record for most digs in a match, 62, set in 2006.
“It’s hard to find kids that can pass and hit all kinds of shots,” Baker said. “We call it ‘having range.’ Certain kids hit the ball one place hard. (O’Donnell) hits the ball all over the place, and her range passing is awesome.”
So is her attitude.
“I’m ready to contribute wherever they put me,” O’Donnell said. “I’m ready to just bring my A game and put it all out on the court.”
The Redwings intend to bring their A game, of course. They always have high expectations.
“There’s some pressure at some times, but I’m more excited than nervous or feeling the pressure,” O’Donnell said. “I’m just really excited to go out there and have fun.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
