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Twin-win situation for Hersey

Outside hitter Kelsey Haas and middle blocker Kristen Pedersen discovered quite a coincidence when they first met at the Hersey summer volleyball camp before their freshman year.

They both have twin brothers.

“We just started talking about our families and it came up,” Pedersen said.

With their similar blond hair and tall height, some people could take the 6-foot-1 Pedersen and 6-foot Haas for sisters.

“It was so weird,” Pedersen said about finding out about the twin brothers. “Because everyone thought we could have been twins. Pretty soon, the whole summer camp knew we about it (twin brothers). It was like such a big deal.”

Pedersen and Haas are sure the real deal when it comes to playing volleyball.

The all-area power hitters are receiving interest from college programs and their front row presence helps make Hersey the prohibitive favorite once again in the Mid-Suburban East. Both are also top-notch students in the classroom.

“They are two great kids,” said Hersey veteran coach Nancy Lill. “I couldn’t ask for any better ones. I am so blessed to have two kids of their caliber.”

Haas led the Huskies with 307 kills last season while producing an outstanding .305 hitting efficiency. She also contributed 92 digs and 28 blocks.

Pedersen moved from right side hitter to a middle blocker as a junior and established herself as one of the top blockers in the league. She had more than 90 blocks. She also was third on the team in kills (162) and led in hitting efficiency at a .332 ratio.

Here is a closer look at Pedersen and Haas.

Kelsey Haas: Haas took a sports marketing class a few years ago and loved it just as much as she loves putting down a kill.

“It was my dream class,” she said. “I always put everything I had into it, 100 percent on every assignment.”

She does the same in volleyball, which she began playing in the fifth grade before starting to play club in seventh grade.

“I just fell in love with the sport,” said Haas, whose brother Trevor plays baseball and basketball at Hersey and runs cross country. “My parents (Mike and Ginger) always supported me.”

They obviously were there for Kelsey this past winter when she required surgery for a torn labrum in her shoulder.

“For her to go through that off-season surgery and come back ready now, it’s unbelievable,” said Hersey coach Nancy Lill. “It’s so nice to have her back, She is a phenomenal talent. To have a 6-footer who can swing out of all six rotations and play defense is outstanding. People know who she is. She has definitely made a mark on this team.”

She has also made a mark outside of volleyball, sporting a 4.8 GPA as a National Honor Society student involved in Service over Self and Best Buddies (helping special needs persons).

As freshmen, Haas and Pedersen played on the junior varsity.

“I never expected to be the player I am today,” Haas said. “I kind of pushed myself by watching all the Mueller sisters (Jenni graduated last year and Shelly in 2009). I wanted to play up to their level. I’m always competitive in everything I do.”

She would one day like to work in the sports marketing field.

“It would be awesome to work with any professional sports team,” she said. “Because my passion has always been sports. I’ve always wanted to work in that field. It would be really cool.”

Kristen Pedersen: When she was starting middle school, Pedersen was already taller than many of her fellow students.

“Everyone was like, ‘You’re so tall you should do basketball,’ ” Pedersen said. “But ever since I was little, I wanted to play volleyball. I just fell in love with the sport.”

Now Hersey fans love seeing Pedersen play the sport.

“Kristen is one of the best middle blockers in the state,” said Hersey coach Nancy Lill. “We were able to set her in the front row and back and she was a great blocker. She is an awesome all-around player.”

Pedersen and Haas also have an awesome setter who handles the offense. Junior all-area performer Abby Fesl is one of the finest in the state.

“Kristen and Kelsey have been playing on the same team with Abby at Sky High (club) so their timing is really good,” Lill said. “Kristen will be a force. She is so much further ahead of the game from last year.”

She always stays ahead in the classroom, with a 4.5 GPA. She participates in a business club, a freshmen mentor program and plans to take part in student council this school year.

Pedersen’s father Russell, who was a three-sport athlete at West Leyden, is a sixth-grade social studies-science teacher.

“He and my mom (Joyce) have always inspired me in a positive way,” said Kristen, whose brother Keith is a wrestler at Hersey.

Kristen plans to study in the field of science, which happens to be her favorite subject.

For now, Pedersen will be subject of many opposing players trying to stop her.

“I love running shoots (quick attacks from Fesl),” Pedersen said. “Abby and I have been able to work together a lot on them now in club.”

  Hersey senior volleyball players Kristen Pedersen, left, and Kelsey Haas, right, are ready for a big senior season. JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Hersey volleyball players Kristen Pedersen, left, and Kelsey Haas block a ball at the net during practice. JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Hersey volleyball players Kristen Pedersen, left, and Kelsey Haas leap for a block during practice. JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  HerseyÂ’s Kelsey Haas tries for a dig during practice. JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com