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Chances are Schill’s volleyball career will end when Aquinas High School’s season ends. Schill, a 6-foot senior outside hitter, has made it clear she wants to play college basketball in 2008. Considering she’s attracted attention from NCAA Division I schools such as UW-Green Bay and the University of Evansville, among others, who can blame her?
George, Aquinas’ coach, will watch what likely is Schill’s final season with regret. Schill is the reigning Mississippi Valley Conference Player of the Year. She had 308 kills last year as the Blugolds shared the MVC title with Sparta and reached the WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinals.
There is no doubt George has enjoyed watching Schill develop into one of the area’s best players. And she plans to enjoy every moment Schill is on the court this fall, including tonight when Aquinas opens its season at home against Tomah. Still ...
“I would like to see her play four more years,” George said. “She hasn’t put the same time into volleyball that she has into basketball, but the potential (to be a college volleyball player) is there.”
The number of inquiries Schill has received from college volleyball programs is relatively small, but there is interest. Schill said she’s heard from UW-Whitewater, the 2005 NCAA Division III national champion, and Division II UW-Parkside.
But other than playing in a Monday-night high school volleyball league this summer, Schill’s life revolved around basketball. She traveled around the Midwest playing for the Wisconsin Fastbreak Select, an AAU team that included Logan senior center Danielle Jorgenson, another potential Division I basketball recruit, and Logan sophomore guard Michelle Mueller.
“I’m not even trying to put myself out there for volleyball,” said Schill, who averaged 12.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.8 steals last season as a guard/forward for the Aquinas girls basketball team.
“I know that if I wanted to go to school to play volleyball, (George) and Jess (Aquinas assistant coach Jessica Mascotti) would talk to (college coaches) for me.”
Given the chance, George would tell anyone willing to listen about Schill.
She would talk about matches like Aquinas’ four-set victory over Sparta on Oct. 10 where Schill had 22 kills and helped the Blugolds clinch at least a share of the MVC title. She also would talk about matches like Aquinas’ four-set loss to eventual state-tournament qualifier Cuba City in the Division 3 sectional semifinals where Schill not only had 16 kills, but also kept her teammates going when things got tough.
“I think Katie has had an outstanding year every year she’s been here,” George said. “You have to have some sort of game plan when you play against her. But the great thing about Katie is she’ll adjust and be right back in there.”
Considering Schill likely won’t be back on the volleyball court after this season, she wants to make her senior season a good one.
“I didn’t even look at what I did individually last year. We had such a good season as a team, and that’s what mattered more,” Schill said. “This year I just want to help the team as much as I can.”
Kirk Bey can be reached at (608) 791-8414, or at kbey@lacrossetribune.com
