Girls volleyball: Spenk, who ‘didn’t hit at all last year,’ stands tall in front row as Hampshire beats Burlington Central

On a senior-laden team last season, Hampshire’s Megan Spenk was relegated to duties as a defensive specialist. She didn’t even get to play in the front row.

The senior outside hitter, all 5-foot-7 of her, relished that challenge for this season.

“It was definitely a big change,” Spenk said. “It felt great. It’s kind of crazy being the lead person because there’s a lot of pressure, but I love it. I didn’t hit at all last year.”

Spenk spent her club season focusing on hitting, realizing how much her role with the Whip-Purs was about to change. It sure has, but she has embraced it.

Putting her progress on display Thursday night, Spenk produced eight kills and five aces for Hampshire in a decisive 25-20, 25-19 Fox Valley Conference win over Burlington Central.

Lily Ingve had seven kills and Layla Fredrick finished with two kills and two blocks for Hampshire (16-12, 8-6). Ainsley Wilson tallied seven kills and two blocks and Lani Akenten added six kills for Burlington Central (25-5, 11-3).

Spenk pointed out that playing outside hitter during the club season made the transition less foreign to her. She knows she has to be strategic going up against taller opponents.

“I just go up,” Spenk said. “I notice where the block is and I swing away and hope for the best. I know that if I get blocked my teammates will be there to help me. I just kind of swing away.”

After losing eight players to graduation, Hampshire coach Omar Cortez is happy to have Spenk to help guide the young Whip-Purs.

“Megan has been killing it for us,” Cortez said. “She’s been leading by example for sure, being that senior on the team. It’s nice. A lot of teams look at her like, ‘Oh, she’s small.’ But Megan gets up and puts the ball away.

“She’s been doing a great job of that and leading the team, and they follow her lead.”

Spenk was dominant in the first game as the Whip-Purs took control early and never relinquished the lead. The Whip-Purs were up 21-19 when she had a kill followed by two aces.

Then in the second game, Spenk went back to serve and pushed an 18-16 nail-biter to 23-17, including a pair of aces. She especially appreciated the effort on teacher appreciation night.

“It felt really good to show all the teachers how well we play together and how much we’ve grown,” Spenk said.

The Rockets needed three games earlier in the season to beat the Whip-Purs, who are 12-2 in their last 14 matches.

Burlington Central coach Julia Smagacz knows Hampshire has improved since the first meeting.

“I give them a lot of credit,” Smagacz said. “They started the season trying to figure their footing out. They have improved and grown. I knew this was not going to be a, ‘Oh, yeah, we beat them the first time.’ We knew that it was going to be a battle.”

Cortez, meanwhile, appreciates Spenk’s calm demeanor in tough situations. That’s not always easy for younger player to embrace, but it’s what Spenk brings to the table as a senior.

“Megan is our go-to player,” Cortez said. “She’s our most consistent. It just comes from experience. Megan doesn’t allow her emotions to control her game, which is something I’m trying to teach them. If we can control our emotions, we can win a lot of matches.

“She’s been a blessing to have this season to lead the girls.”

That leadership manifests itself in a fishbowl.

“One of our sayings is having a mind like a goldfish,” Spenk said. “When you make a mistake, it’s gone. Don’t even think of it. We’re a team that’s constantly reassuring each other.”