Watching juniors Cindy Zhou and Kristen Webb play volleyball together is like watching a clock function. Each move is carefully and meticulously choreographed in order for the system to work. They play together with fluidity and confidence that keeps their team ticking.
If one of their teammates makes a mistake, they are right there to pick them up and help that person improve so they won’t make the same mistake again. A missed block or a bad pass never upsets the rhythm of these girls; they bounce right back up and are ready for the next play.
Despite this competitive and caring connection that binds them, Webb and Zhou have only been playing together for three years. The Cats, who recently finished their season 28-9, were led by these two girls who, although they were only juniors, did not lack in the experience needed to direct a team.
Since the fifth grade, the only sport Zhou has played was volleyball (through the club team Sky High and now through the high school team), putting in around 10 hours per week toward volleyball alone, and that doesn’t include tournament play on weekends.
When an athlete plays a sport for several years, focuses only on that sport, and is still able to maintain the academic level that is required to get into a school like the University of Michigan, something right is happening. This is exactly what Zhou, a setter, has done.
In November of her sophomore year, it all paid off. Zhou committed to the University of Michigan. That’s right, her sophomore year. That is how good this young woman is.
Shortly into Zhou’s high school career, girls volleyball head varsity coach Greg Loika saw something special in the young freshman and moved her up to varsity.
“Regardless of age, the best players should be playing,” said Loika. “[Zhou] was one of the best setters I have seen, so I moved her up.”
Being one of the two youngest girls on the court didn’t slow Zhou down, however. In fact, now as a junior, she feels that she has more pressure to do well than when she was a freshman and sophomore.
“Now I am more of a leader,” she said. “I have more of a responsibility to play well and help others play to their potential.”
Playing well understates Zhou’s contributions. Zhou averaged 20-25 assists per match this season and was named to the Wheaton All-Tournament Team in September.
“She has been playing for a long time and not just for me on varsity,” Loika commented. “She has the experience, the positivity and the energy to make this team better.”
However, she has not been alone in this job. In Zhou’s freshman year, Loika saw another young talent that he could not pass up: libero and future captain Kristen Webb. She joined Zhou as a freshman on the varsity squad. Even though it was the first time Webb and Zhou had ever played together, they seemed to click right away.
“Cindy is such a great player,” said Webb. “Her hardworking attitude just rubs off on you while you’re on the court.”
The play of the two girls, although impressive separately, improves greatly when they are on the court together.
“[Kristen] is a responsive person,” continued Zhou. “She really gets along with people well and she has really helped me to understand others better in order to play better with them on the court.”
However, the girls haven’t just become closer on the court. Off the court, they have become really good friends as well, even doing homework together on weekends.
“Since freshman year we have gotten so much closer,” reminisces Webb. “I just cannot wait to step on the court and play with her. We really bring out the best in each other.”
They also bring out the best in their teammates.
“Even though they’re only juniors, we really look up to them. They have a lot of experience and are excellent leaders,” said teammate Kelly Cypher, a senior.
Experience is not gained through just going out and playing during practice and games, however. Both Webb and Zhou have put in hours upon hours and sacrificed much in order to reach the next level.
“They have really been working hard and made phenomenal progress as players,” said Loika. “And they were really embraced by their teammates. They were even voted captains as juniors.”
Although eventually she grew into a leader on the court, Webb admitted to a little skepticism and nerves early on: “Freshman year, I felt that everyone was so good and so tall, and I was just the little freshman. I felt like I had to perform every time I stepped on the court. Also, I felt that there were a lot of big shoes to fill from previous seniors and previous liberos.”
She would soon come to learn that her skittishness was nothing to worry about.
“The team really helped me though. All the girls were so nice and helped me with everything in every practice and every game. And sophomore year was better because I knew the team,” Webb said. “I also knew my role on the team so I was more comfortable. Loika is one of my favorite coaches ever, and he really helped me feel welcome as well.”
Webb plays libero, which is a defensive specialist who can substitute freely within the game.
“I love the concept of my position,” Webb remarked. “It’s to get anything and everything up and it doesn’t matter how you do it as long as it’s up.”
Most of the time, it is sent up to Zhou, who sets up one of the team’s hitters.
“[Webb] had around 24 digs in a match against Lake Zurich for us earlier this season,” recalls Loika. “As a freshman, she was our best passer on the team in any level. And that’s why we moved her up.”
Another reason why Webb and Zhou proved to be so compatible was their love for the game.
“I love that it’s such a team sport. You need the other girls on your team to help you,” said Zhou. “In other sports you can have that one star, but in volleyball, you really do need the support of your teammates.”