Homann, Saints build on tradition

Of the 11 All-Area girls volleyball captains the Daily Herald has honored in the Tri-Cities, seven of them have come from St. Charles East.

One of them, Laura Homann, is the only player ever to be named captain two consecutive years. She was named captain last year and again this year for her leadership, ability to make her teammates better, consistency, smart play and overall volleyball skills.

The Saints' theme this year is Build on Tradition, and Homann fits the bill perfectly. For the past two years on varsity, she has become one of the school's best-ever setters, right up there with Amanda Rohrsen, who was on the 2001 Class AA state championship team.

Homann was on the Class 4A team that finished third in the state last year. It is still up in the air whether or not the Saints will make another state appearance with her as the starting setter.

"Laura is considered one of the best," St. Charles East coach Jennie Kull said. "I'm just blessed. She is positive, doesn't get flustered (and) if she makes a mistake, she'll apologize. If people aren't hitting their sets, she takes the blame for it. She's a great quarterback to the program. She's one of the main reasons we are where we are."

As a sophomore new to the varsity, Kull called Homann the player to watch out for in 2007. As a junior, she finished with over 1,000 assists and led the team in aces. A year ago, she had no idea where she wanted to play volleyball in college, so in the off-season, she made it a point to get that taken care of.

Homann narrowed her choice down to Syracuse University in New York - yet another school with the color orange in it, just like the Saints.

"I love the school, it's so pretty," said Homann, who is thinking of majoring in civil engineering. "I'm really excited."

"She loves it, and she looks good in orange," Kull added. "It's a great fit."

Homann and the Saints' hitters have also been a great fit. She helped young up-and-comers Jacqui Seidel and Caroline Niski last year become dynamic, kill-producing players this year, as the two juniors have combined for almost 500 kills.

Olivia Desormey and Meghan Niski were new to varsity this year, and the only other starting senior was Haley Streich, so Homann was setting to all sorts of different players with different experience levels.

Still, with over 900 assists this year, Homann has done her part, setting to each hitter the way they like it.

"We are all so different... she adjusts to each individual hitter," Streich said. "Whenever we are off, she always finds me. I like her sets."

"She lays it up there so nice," Kull said. "When (the hitters) get a good hit, she feels good."

Homann liked the variety of players she had the option to set to.

"It was fun figuring out where they were and where I could set to them so they could be successful," Homann said. "It's so nice this year how everyone is spread out. Everyone is doing awesome."

Kull can't imagine what the program will be like without Homann. Seidel spent some time setting, but was moved to outside hitter because of the experience Homann had. After she graduates, Seidel will most likely be the Saints' setter next year.

Not only is Kull going to miss Homann, but so will her husband, as she plays clarinet in Jim Kull's top band group.

"The thing about her is that she's a great setter, but she has that personality," Kull said. "She always comes to the gym ready to work hard... whatever I ask her to do gets done.

"She's driven to be the best and does it in a positive way, and she never steps on people to get there."

Although she is excited to play at the next level, there's nothing like her experiences playing with the Saints.

"This has been so much fun," Homann said. "You really can't ask for a better group of girls, coaches (and) support from our fans. It's going to be really sad (when it's over)."

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