Players, coaches alike rave about Tietz

You'll have to pardon St. Charles North girls volleyball coach Lindsay Trudell for getting choked up for a moment when asked how much will she miss senior Carla Tietz after she graduates.

Trudell has been the North Stars' coach for four years. Tietz has been an outside hitter on varsity for three of those years, so the two have many memories together.

"She is very close to me," Trudell said. "I'll be very sad (when Tietz graduates). I know she is someone who I will talk to for a very long time."

Trudell and the rest of the North Stars still have about a half a season left to enjoy Tietz and everything she does for St. Charles North.

Tietz blocks, gets kills, passes well, has a great serve and when she has to, can set. Versatility might as well be her middle name.

"She's done amazing," junior Rachel Huber said. "She plays all the way around. She is our most consistent player. She can play all positions. She is the heart and soul of the team, there is no other way to say it."

Through Wednesday's matches, Tietz' hitting efficiency is .352 and kill efficiency is .487. She has 119 kills, 158 digs and 28 aces.

Not only has her numbers increased every year on varsity, but so has her role. As a sophomore in 2005, she was the youngest player on the team. She played right away and had no trouble blending in with the older girls. She finished with 178 digs and 31 aces.

"She didn't take too long to blend in and she has a real bubbly personality," Trudell said. "Everyone likes her."

Junior year was a good year for Tietz as well, as she played with some of her best senior friends. It was also back-to-back seasons when the North Stars reached the supersectional match.

"Last year was so hard saying good-bye because we were so close," Tietz said. "They were such good role models."

With the departure of 8 seniors, it was up to Tietz to take on a leadership role. This is something she had never done before. So far, so good, as younger players like Kelsey Smith approve.

"She's done a good job," Smith said. "She's really vocal and good at communicating with everyone. She brings a lot of energy and passion to the team."

Tietz keeps the energy level alive, despite the fact she never leaves the court. Trudell wants her there as much as possible.

"I think it's kind of subconscious, even when I switch up lineups," Trudell said. "I never pull her. She's always involved in every game in some aspect or another. Ninety percent of the time, she is on the floor. She is always out there."

"It's hard sometimes (being on the floor all the time) if I am having an off-game, but I love it," Tietz added. "I love being there and being a part of everything."

Tietz may be always on the floor, but she'll never be the tallest one there. While most outside hitters hover around the 5-foot-10 range and above, Tietz is listed at a generous 5-foot-9 and has a small frame.

"She's not the tallest and not the strongest, but she is well-above average in every single category in serving, passing, hitting and blocking," Trudell said. "She can really do it all, even though she does not physically stand out like some of the other girls would.

"But she fits right in. She has a very strong vertical and has a very funky arm swing. It's hard to read her on the outside…she's not that 6-foot outside who is going to go over the block, but she can certainly hit."

"(My height) is sort of a joke," Tietz added. "We all joke around about me being tiny. When I get blocked, it's like we know it's going to happen…but when I was younger, like sophomore year, I thought, 'I am half the size of some of these girls. What am I doing? What is coach thinking putting me in with these girls?' Her trust and confidence in me boosted me up."

Tietz' height will not be a huge factor next year at the University of Georgia, where she will play defensive specialist.

Instead of waiting until next fall, Tietz worked ahead and will be done with high school in December. She plans on starting college early and practicing with her new team for the spring semester.

Tietz hopes, however, she will still be able to attend prom and graduation at the end of the high school year.

"I always knew I wanted to get my feet wet with something else, and do something different in life," said Tietz, who committed in early May. "My freshman year, I was like, 'I can't wait to be a senior,' but now that I am here, I am ready for the next step.

"Everyone knows the last semester of senior year is a break, so I think I am ready to start the whole college thing and practice with the team."