Anyone who thinks we aren’t sending the best and brightest of our young people to Washington, D.C. hasn’t met Geneva’s Fiona Turnbull.
The 6-foot-2 senior middle hitter is headed to the nation’s capital to play volleyball at Georgetown. As impressive as that is, it might pale in comparison to what she could do after graduation.
“I’m thinking political science,” Turnbull said of her studies. “I want to go down a prelaw track.”
Turnbull could use that to become a lawyer or politician.
“No one in my family is really a part of that, but I just have a really big interest for history and English and things like that. I love to interact with people, and that’s a great way to do it.”
Turnbull’s affable personality is immediately apparent upon conversing with her. It’s something Geneva coach Lauren Kosecki prizes.
“Oh, gosh, she’s just like the best human being,” Kosecki said. “She works hard, she’s a good leader and she’s a good teammate.
“I couldn’t ask for anything more from a senior leader. I’ve had her for four years, and she is honestly one of the most positive people we’ve had.”
Turnbull has done a lot of positive things on the court. She’s second on the team this season with 135 kills and also has 28 digs, 24 blocks and 18 aces.
That includes five kills, three service points and two blocks in a hard-fought 25-21, 25-19 loss Monday night against host Naperville Central.
Senior setter Bridget Feichter praised Turnbull to the hilt.
“She is someone who is really reliable,” Feichter said. “My passers do a great job of giving me opportunities to get the ball to her, and any time I can, I love giving her the ball.”
Middles don’t get set as often as the pin hitters, but the attack for Geneva (12-9) was balanced against Naperville Central (10-9).
Turnbull, Milwaukee-bound senior right-side Samantha Vanda and senior outside Lillian Hallahan all had five kills.
“It’s hard to be a middle because you have to balance that blocking and hitting, but obviously it’s a blessing when our setters give me the ball,” Turnbull said. “I love to see my outsides and my right-sides succeed, for sure, but it’s always nice to get that ball.”
Turnbull is having a ball in her final season with the Vikings.
“We’re a very close team,” Turnbull said. “It’s definitely cool to look to my left and my right and see my best friends by my side, so I think those positive interactions with my teammates is a big thing that carries us through.”
That’s true even during losses like Monday’s.
“They were a great team,” Turnbull said of the Redhawks. “Going into the season, we knew nothing was going to come easy to us.
“Sometimes it slips away from us, but I’m proud of this team for working as hard as we can. These are my best friends and I have full confidence that we’ll be fine.”
Turnbull’s confidence, meanwhile, is contagious.
“She’s someone who always builds up this team,” Feichter said. “She brings so much confidence in all of us. She believes we can do so much more than we think we can.
“Even today, she was always there saying, ‘You can do it, you’ve got it, don’t worry.’”
Kosecki is worried about how she will replace Turnbull, but the former Michigan State standout isn’t concerned about Turnbull’s future.
“It’s going to be a big loss for us,” Kosecki said. “She is just the nicest kid.
“She’s going to go off to Georgetown and do good things.”
In volleyball and in life.
“I love her,” Feichter said. “She’s going to be a really good leader anywhere she goes, for sure.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
