Izabella Kowalczyk is developing into a real momentum-changing player this season for Lemont.
She has already proven herself to be an excellent problem solver. Or at least a splendid solution.
The 5-foot-11 Kowalczyk did that for the first time during the club season, when the coach asked her to switch up from her natural positions at middle hitter/right-side hitter.
“In club, we were missing a lot of athletes,” Kowalczyk said. “They put me at outside hitter because I was one of the taller players and was able to make certain shots.”
By coincidence, Lemont went into summer camp a bit short as well, after Southern Mississippi-bound senior outside hitter Keira O’Donnell transferred to Class 4A powerhouse Benet.
Kowalczyk stepped up and into the starting role.
She was a senior leader in every sense Thursday night for Lemont in a 25-21, 25-14 South Suburban Conference crossover victory over visiting Richards.
Kowalczyk had 10 kills and nine digs for Lemont (5-1, 1-0 SSC Blue). Fiona Tkach added nine kills and Sophia Swiderski put down seven, while Elon recruit April Rice contributed six kills and 19 assists and Nora Miller made 10 digs.
Peyton Craan paced Richards (5-2, 0-1 SSC Red) with eight kills. Emily Chavosky handed out 15 assists and Kailey Moore managed 10 digs.
Kowalczyk did her momentum-changing thing against Richards during the first game.
Lemont was clinging to a 17-16 lead when she put the ball down with authority. It was 18-17 when she did it again for a side out. On the next rally, she put one off a Bulldogs blocker.
Before the first game ended, Kowalczyk would add another rocket from the outside and a final kill through the middle of Richards’ defense.
She’s definitely feeling it.
“This is so much fun,” Kowalczyk said. “I really love hitting outside, being with this team and stepping up with April.”
It has been a climb, to be sure.
In her first year at Lemont, Kowalczyk played on the freshman team. She saw quality time on the JV team as a sophomore. But during her junior season, Lemont coach Chris Zogata — due simply to the roster situation — used her as a part-time player.
“She was playing some right side and some middle for me,” Zogata said. “But when she went and played outside at club, she came back really good.
“At summer camp, we were like, ‘Wow.’ I had thought she’d still play the middle, but when I saw her I was, ‘Oh, no. She’ll start at outside.’ It’s her hitting and it’s her attitude. She goes after every ball. She wants to be successful. She wants to get better.”
Rice wasn’t surprised at all.
“Well, I knew even when she was a middle she was a great hitter,” Rice said. “I still think she was very good last year. She just didn’t have the number of opportunities that other people got.
“During summer league, she had a lot of kills — 10-foot line kills, too. That made me very excited for the season because I knew she could fill the role that Keira left.”
It didn’t take long for the duo to develop a setter-hitter connection.
“Oh, yes, I can give her a good glance,” Kowalczyk said, laughing. “She already knows and gives me a good set.”
And even when it isn’t?
“Izabella can work with the set,” Rice said. “If it’s bad, she’ll adjust. It’s very easy setting her. I know exactly what set she wants and I know she’ll put it down.
“She’s very trustworthy on the court and very versatile. That makes her so valuable. I’m glad she’s having more of an opportunity now. She’s really shining.”
Tony Baranek is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
