Welcome to hammer time.
After spending the first three-plus years of her volleyball career as a setter/right-side hitter, St. Charles North sophomore Katherine Scherer has made the move to the more glamorous position of outside hitter.
Even though the North Stars dropped a 25-22, 25-13 decision Thursday to Benet, it was apparent the 6-foot-1 Scherer is finding her niche.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” she said of the position switch, which started earlier this year during club at Sports Performance. “It’s more glorifying than the setting position, but I have to appreciate the setter so much more now, having seen it from the perspective of both positions.”
Scherer can wow fans with her power, and it showed last week.
Late in the first game, Benet (6-1) held a 22-19 lead on the North Stars (4-4). Scherer then soared to connect with sets from junior Jessica Parker, blasting home hits three times for points.
The North Stars were down 24-22 when another passing miscue proved costly.
“We’ve had a very tough schedule to start,” St. Charles North coach Lindsey Hawkins said. “We’re realizing our first contact game needs to improve. We need to work on our passing.
“Our offense is very strong, but the passing needs to be a lot better.”
Subbed out in the back row, Scherer has work to do on her all-around game.
“I love the change,” Scherer said. “Jess and I have been working really hard to connect, and I think we’re jelling really, really well.”
Parker, who is running a 5-1 offense for the first time, agreed.
“She has developed really well,” Parker said of Scherer. “I look to her all the time to set her when I’m out of system, in system, because I know she’ll hit a ball down.”
Scherer’s game received a boost last summer when her club director submitted video to USA Volleyball that helped land her an invite to a weeklong training camp for the National Team Development Program in Anaheim, California.
“It was just a training camp, but it was like the best of the best, I would say,” Scherer said. “It was super intimidating at first, but it was a lot of really good reps and I think that it made me a lot better.
“And playing outside, I think it’s better for my college future.”
Playing a full rotation likely will be in Scherer’s future.
“She’s got a lot to learn in the back row,” Hawkins said. “Right now, we’re trying to get some of those senior passers out there because they have a little more leadership and they bring a presence, but Katie is right there.”
Mia Dela Merced, a 5-9 senior outside hitter, has monitored and helped mentor her young teammate.
“She’s adapting really well,” Dela Merced said of Scherer. “I’m just trying to do my best, especially when passing and just talking to her. It’s hard as an outside because you have to do every job, so passing, hitting.
“I think we look at each other as challenging each other, trying to make each other better. And as a senior, I hope she can rely on me.”
Hawkins is pleased with Scherer’s progress.
“She’s just now becoming an outside and figuring that out,” Hawkins said. “For her to be playing at such a high level, having just started learning this position, I think speaks well to how talented she is and how much potential she has.”
