Girls volleyball: Hersey's Fuerst put others first
Hersey senior Liz Fuerst showed why she is the Daily Herald all-area honorary captain even before the Huskies played a match this season.
Prior to the first practice, Fuerst invited every girl in the program - more than 60 from the four levels - to her home for a bonding session.
"What a huge undertaking," said Hersey coach Nancy Lill. "Liz organized everything. They made game-day T-shirts (tie-dye) to wear and they also tossed them to our fans during the lineup introductions. There was pizza there and everything."
Suffice it to say, Fuerst was taking her role seriously as the senior captain.
And, as usual, she once again put up serious numbers on the floor.
Fuerst's 330-plus kills gave her 1,030 for her career that extends back to her freshman year when she was the one looking up to seniors such as Abby Fesl and Taylor Schill.
"Coming into the program those seniors were so positive and I really looked to them for leadership," said Fuerst, second only to Megan Fesl (1,141) for all-time career kills at Hersey. "I was so thankful I had people to look up to. I didn't know if it would happen but I always hoped maybe one day I could be that positive person for the younger players to look up to."
And the timing for Fuerst's chance to be the leader couldn't have been more significant.
This year's team has eight key players who were on underlevel teams just a year ago.
One of them is Amy Morgan, the team's third-leading attacker in kills who was an outside hitter for the sophomore team 12 months ago.
"Liz did a great job making me and everyone feel so comfortable," Morgan said. "We have such a young team and I feel like Liz was a major part of why we all played so well together and had so much fun."
"It's a testament to Liz's leadership that this year's team could be so successful without a lot of varsity returning experience" Lill said.
Morgan, also an outside hitter, knew Fuerst prior to high school because they both attended St. James in Arlington Heights.
"I love playing outside hitter (same as Fuerst) because I've been able to learn so much from her, and her positive attitude really helps with that," Morgan added. "To be honest, she understands how to make everyone feel so welcome and a part of the team. It's like age makes no difference on the team."
Fuerst made a big difference through her leadership skills and physical skills on the floor.
Next year, she will be a member of the University Indiana-University Purdue Fort Wayne women's volleyball team. She plans to study elementary and special education.
But she will never forget her high school volleyball experience.
"It's been everything I hoped for," Fuerst said. "I've had a great coaching staff. They're like my parents away from home. Our team bonding is great. We are with each other all the time. Even out of season, we hang with each other. It's truly like a family."
And Fuerst leaves the program truly as one of the finest.