Girls volleyball: Belmonte battles back from serious injuries to lead Fremd to MSL, sectional titles

After undergoing three surgeries on her right knee in 18 months which kept her sidelined for her sophomore and junior seasons, Victoria Belmonte wasn't even sure if she'd get to play another high school match.

"I would say it was the hardest 18 months of my life but I just tried to stay positive throughout the whole thing," the 5-foot-11 Fremd senior setter said. "I had my doubts (about playing again) during my surgery and rehab. There were times I didn't know if I'd come back."

Not only did she come back, she returned to the floor this fall with an elite performance that led her team to all the way to the Elite Eight as the Vikings' setter.

The 2024-25 Daily Herald All-Area Captain, also named Mid-Suburban West Player of the Year, dished out more than 750 assists and produced more than 100 kills as Fremd won the Mid-Suburban League title, a regional title and sectional title.

The honors she achieved while helping to make it all happen were the last thing Belmonte was looking for.

"She is thinking 'How can I share this with the team," said third-year Fremd coach Pete Gavin. "That's just who she is. A kid who has gotten a lot of accolades this year but all she cares about is the team's success."

That success came from the one intangible Belmonte brought to the table: chemistry.

Coincidentally, she wants to study chemistry and forensic science in college.

"I watched those television shows on forensics and thought they were cool," said Belmonte, who sports a 4.6 GPA. "My chemistry class (teacher Jennifer Carlson) my sophomore year was cool. My favorite class was psychology."

Where she will study and if she will play volleyball in college is still to be determined.

"Being out two years kind of hurt her recruiting chances but she still has hopes and dreams of playing Division 1 volleyball," Gavin said. "That's something I think she has the talent to do, especially if she gets healthier and healthier. I'm hoping something pops up for her. I know she is a kid that schools would be lucky to have."

Gavin feels fortunate to have had Belmonte set for his third team at Fremd. As a freshman, Belmonte played all 40 matches in that 37-3 season collecting more than 170 kills as a right-side hitter.

She was all set to return for her sophomore season but on the very last day of summer camp injured her knee.

On Aug. 29, 2022 she had her first surgery (partially torn ACL) but she tore it again three months later while training and underwent a second surgery on Jan. 24, 2023.

Then she tore it again during vertical testing with her trainer, requiring another surgery on the meniscus this past April.

"It was definitely the hardest thing that has happened in my life," she said. "Having to go through it three times was just really hard."

During the past two seasons, she tried to attend as many matches as she could.

"Last fall, I was doing a lot of rehab to get myself back so I didn't get to as many as my sophomore year," she said. "I just tried to stay positive throughout the whole thing.

“My friend (Loyola High School senior Grace Kreutz) was also going through ACL surgery so we pushed each other to get back."

Belmonte gives big kudos to the Fremd coaching staff for helping her get back.

"I got really close to them and felt I was part of the staff," said Belmonte who followed her sister Allie into the sport. "They pushed me to get back to where I'm at and helped me so much."

And then this year, it was Belmonte helping the Vikings get back to the Elite Eight for the third time in five seasons.

"It's pretty wild, especially because she went from being an opposite hitter freshman year," said Gavin, who coincidentally was a captain as a setter for Palatine's 2004 Final Four boys volleyball team coached by Pinley. "Not that she hadn't set before, but still, sitting for two years and coming back from a different position you played in high school is pretty impressive."

And she got to play with an impressive surrounding cast.

"These kids are great and Victoria would be the first to tell you her success is largely due to the amazing hitters and passers we have on the team," Gavin said. "It's just something that is special about this group. Everyone contributes. Even when someone had a rough day, there was someone there to pick them up and Victoria is a prime example in that she makes everyone around her better."

"It's her will to compete and win. And she is such a high volleyball IQ athlete. She understands the game. She knows how to put teammates in a situation to be successful which is the mark of a great setter. She is a tall left-hander which is nice for a setter. She has big hands and her depth perception and ability to read balls off the platform was exceptional."

Belmont constantly put herself in a situation where she was able to make a good set.

"I think she always had a passion for setting," Gavin said. "But when she came in as a freshman, Ryan Baker (All-Area standout) was here. Victoria is the type of kid who would do anything to help the team win, so if that meant playing a different position, she's going to do it. I think she has always had dreams of being a setter. I think she kind of enjoys the organizational side of it and being a leader on the court. And she obviously does a good job at it."

Just like she does in the classroom.

"She is exceptional, an awesome kid," Gavin added. "She's a great student and I've had multiple teachers come up to me and tell me how great she is in their class."

And now she is the head of class for this year's Daily Herald Cook County All-Area volleyball team.