Sports

Plainfield Central volleyball flying Hyland

Junior middle hitter settles into leadership role for Wildcats

   MINOOKA -- For Plainfield Central junior middle hitter Erin Hyland, volleyball has been a way of life since she was in fifth grade.

   She learned the game from her older sister, Emily. The two used to drill in the back yard.

   "If my older sister hadn't played, I probably wouldn't have either," Erin Hyland said following the Wildcats' three-set setback to Minooka (25-23, 26-28, 18-25) in their Southwest Prairie Conference opener on Thursday night. "She needed someone to practice with. So, we went outside and just fooled around – in the back yard, yep.

Find out what's happening in Plainfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

   "I immediately fell in love with it. She pretty much taught me everything I needed to know to get started."

   From Day 1, Erin was a fast learner. She had to be – she had to keep up with her sister. The two played together on the Wildcats' front line last season. Emily since has moved on to Joliet Junior College.

Find out what's happening in Plainfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

   Erin, 6 feet 1, has stepped up in her third year of varsity action as one of Central's captains and floor leaders.

   She topped the Wildcats (1-5, 0-1) with 10 kills, eight serve-receive passes and four solo blocks against Minooka. Her strong play at the net and gritty determination triggered the 'Cats surge back from 12-7 and 23-18 deficits in Game 1.

   Her coach, Central's Jessica Clark, has grown accustomed to watching Hyland fly high above the net.

   Over the summer months, she played on the UNO Elite 16-under team that participated in the Junior Olympics at Reno, Nev.  For Hyland, it was an experience of a lifetime that thrust her up against some of the top players in the nation in her age group.

   "She's a very positive player," Clark said. "She pushes her teammates. She is the one that is keeping up the tempo – even in practice. And she's just a happy person, which is refreshing to have on a volleyball team.

   "You need someone like that. She rarely will get down on herself. She'll shake it off. She's a leader. That's what she is – she's a leader. And, last year, she got to play with her sister. I had the two of them in the middle, which was kind of cool."

   The third member of the Hyland volleyball family could become the next to crack that Sister Act Club. Elizabeth is a standout eighth-grade player at Holy Family School.

   Erin wants to keep playing volleyball through college. She dreams of some day becoming a teacher (special education) and a coach and she has the effervescent personality to handle both jobs.

   "I love people," she said. "It's just something I've always wanted to do. I'd like to help others out."

   In the meantime, she is leading the good life of a 16-year-old teen. She has her driver's permit. Soon, she will be flying solo behind the wheel, too.

   "I just need to get my hours in," Hyland said. "Then, I'll get my license – on Sept. 16. Oh, yes, I know the exact date."

   She also knows her role with the Wildcats, who have two seniors, libero Carly Buell and setter Alexis Rapp, in their regular rotation.

   "I try and keep them optimistic," Hyland said. "When we get down by seven points, you need someone to keep you up and happy and tell you that you can get through this. I play that role. And Taryn (Trubich) is just as fantastic at it as I am."

 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here