Fuerst helping enhance Hersey's volleyball legacy

Liz Fuerst is ready for her senior year.

And she could be even more dangerous than ever because a burden has been lifted from her shoulders.

Over the summer, Fuerst made her college commitment to Division I Indiana University-Purdue Fort Wayne.

"It is great for Liz to be able to enjoy her senior year at Hersey without the stress of making a decision on where she will play volleyball in college," said Hersey coach Nancy Lill. "I think IUPFW is a great fit for Liz.

"She will be an impact player right away for them and will do very well at the next level."

Stepping up to the next level, specifically D-I athletics, has been commonplace in the Fuerst family.

Liz' brother Mike is a sophomore playing for Princeton's men's volleyball team.

Her mother Daiva played volleyball at UCLA volleyball and her dad Jeff played basketball at Miami of Ohio after starring at Prospect.

"Coming from a family of all D-I athletes, I set out for a goal that someday I would play D-1 as well," Liz said. "With the support and help from my coaches, teammates and family, I am blessed to have reached the goal I have always been dreaming of."

She has reached it with some impressive numbers at the high school level.

The 5-foot-10 outside hitter already has 685 kills and 173 blocks in her first three varsity seasons.

Last fall, she walloped 323 kills with a .300 hitting efficiency to go with 81 blocks and 26 aces while earning an all-state team honorable mention.

"Liz is definitely one of the top players in the state this year," Lill said. "It will be great to have Liz back for her senior season."

Fuerst says it's been great growing up with a brother achieving high success in the same sport.

"My brother has always been a role model to me, so when he committed to Princeton to play volleyball, I realized I wanted to do the same and keep my volleyball career going," she said. "Mike has always been there to encourage me and has pushed me to always do my best."

And of course, so did her mom, who was an All-American at UCLA and played on the U.S. national team.

"My mom was an amazing player through her career, but she always made it a point to make sure my brother and I were playing volleyball because of our own passion for the game," Liz said. "She coached me all throughout junior high and I wouldn't be where I am now if it wasn't for her and the amazing support from my dad and the rest of my family."

Basketball was the first sport Fuerst played.

"I always had fun being the girl a few inches taller than everyone else and scoring over them, but it wasn't the sport for me," she said.

Her father Jeff was the person who told Liz that if she didn't love basketball she shouldn't be playing it.

"He then encouraged me to do what I loved and convinced me to start playing club volleyball," Liz said.

Even as a junior high student in the Hersey summer camps, Lill knew Liz would be a very special player.

"She has outstanding athleticism, quickness, a great vertical jump and an innate drive to be the best," Lill said. "She was a rare freshman varsity starter in the Hersey volleyball program."

As a sophomore, Fuerst moved from the right side to the outside hitter spot, her natural position.

"Each season she has taken another step in her development as a player," Lill said. "She is a player who can dominate a match with her big swings and blocks. This season, her defense is much improved. She is one of our captains this season and will provide strong leadership to our team."

Fuerst began on a fifth-grade park district team.

"Obviously, volleyball was something I had grown up with but I also did play tennis, basketball, soccer, golf, and dance," Fuerst said. "In fifth grade, I decided to focus all of my time on volleyball."

And she was always surrounded by good company.

"I've always looked up to my mom, brother, and cousins since they were older than I and were amazing at the sport," she said. "But what really pushed me to be a better player was having such amazing leaders when I was a freshmen at Hersey.

"Abby Fesl and Taylor Schill (all-area standouts) really helped my transition into high school and they were both great role models for how a team leader should be."

Fuerst also stressed the "amazing" coaching she received at Hersey and Sky High that pushed her to perform the best she could.

Now she hopes she can play on her fourth straight Mid-Suburban League championship team this fall.

"I've really been blessed my last few years with amazing teammates and great coaches," she said. "This year we are stronger than ever and none of our goals have changed. Our goal is to stay united as a team, have tons of fun, and make it to state."

Fuerst loves all phases of the game.

"If I truly had to pick one, I would have to say the best part of the game for me is not letting the ball hit the floor in any situation and getting a kill to change the momentum of a game," she said. "But I have to say the best part is being out on the court and playing with the amazing teammates I have."

The academic side of Fuerst's high school career is just as successful.

Her favorite subject in school would have to be U.S. history.

"Going into my junior year, I was very skeptical of what this class was going to be like," Fuerst said. "Usually when people think history, they think of something boring.

"But my teacher, Mr. (Sean) Gudaitis really made the class interesting for me. His love for the subject made everyone in his class love it and want to learn more as well."

She plans study elementary education and special education.

"Those programs at IPFW were exactly what I was looking for," Fuerst said. "And being able to play volleyball as well was just an added bonus."

Fuerst said she also had great visits to the University of Rhode Island, Youngstown State and a few others.

"But what really sold me on Indiana Purdue-Fort Wayne was the home-like atmosphere that I got when I was there." she said. "When I first went on the visit, I was skeptical if I would ever find the right 'college fit' that everyone always talks about. But after meeting Coach (Steve) Florio and coach Jazz (Jasmine Fullove), I knew this is where I needed to be."

For now, Fuerst wants to enjoy her final year of high school.

"The best part of high school volleyball is being able to represent the Husky Nation and be a part of the legacy Hersey volleyball has," Fuerst said. "It is always an amazing feeling when you have teachers and fellow students coming to watch and support your games, especially when it's against a rival school."