Unfinished business for Holthus, Burlington Central

It's been a fast four years.

It wasn't all that long ago, or it doesn't seem like it, that Burlington Central senior Stephanie Holthus burst onto the high school volleyball scene.

And while Holthus quickly gained the reputation of being a top prospect, mostly through her play with Club Fusion, the Burlington Central program, while competitive, hadn't really burst onto the high school scene either.

Until last year that is. Led by senior standouts Molly Turk, now at Northern Iowa, Illinois State recruit Meg Zasasda, and a pair of talented juniors in Holthus and Florida transfer Taylor Scully, the Rockets got on a postseason run that didn't end until they lost to national power Joliet Catholic in the Class 3A state championship match at Redbird Arena.

Now, a short 10 months later - a 10 months that included a trip to Croatia to play for the U.S. Girls Youth team, Holthus is back to lead the Rockets to what she hopes is a magical finish to her high school career.

"It's my senior year and you want to accomplish everything you can," said Holthus, who had over 450 spike kills last season, a better than .500 hitting efficiency, over 60 blocks, some 275 digs and over 70 aces as well as making just 11 errors in over 350 serve-receive attempts.

"Another trip to state would be perfect closure to my high school career."

But the Northwestern recruit realizes, as does Rockets' coach Marv Leavitt, that there's work to be done to live up to this year's team motto of "Unfinished business" and win a state championship.

"A lot of people may underestimate us this year but I really think we have more to prove than last year," said Holthus. "We have a lot of talent. We just have to come to practice focused every day. Last year we thought we'd have a hard time getting out of regionals. This year is unfinished business. That's what it says on our shirts. We want to take it a step further and win state."

Any team that does that needs a leader, and while she was a team captain last season, this is her senior year and truly the time for Holthus to step to the forefront as she not only leads her teams but prepares herself for Big Ten volleyball as well - something she's still having a hard time realizing is oh so near.

"I picture myself as a freshman and it's hard for me to believe that next year at this time I'll be at Northwestern," Holthus said. "This (high school volleyball) is a comfort zone for me. Next year is really going to be a challenge. It's one thing to be good in high school or club, but it's another thing to be good in the Big Ten. Playing in the Big Ten has always been my dream so I'm excited for school, the competition and everything that comes with it."

Holthus, a 6-footer who said she believes her blocking and hitting have improved since last year, is well aware that before she can really start thinking about becoming a Wildcat, she has some duties to perform for the Rockets.

"I'd just say leadership," she said when asked her most important role this year. "All the younger players in this program have so much potential. I just want to help them along. I have to help set the standard for how everyone should get along."

Leavitt, now in his 20th year coaching high school volleyball, is confident his senior leader will be just that - a leader.

"It's great to see the leadership and maturity that's developed with Steph," he said. "In the past two years she's really taken on a leadership role. As we progressed last year you heard her voice more and more. She's positive with the younger kids but she's also demanding. We've had some great leaders here the last few years and she's really taken on that role."

And if Holthus performs her leadership duties as well as she plays volleyball, the Rockets are in safe hands and could most certainly realize that dream of going to state again.