SPORTS

DCE senior continues to hand out assists

Tim Johnson

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Caroline Hehir has been a setter for the D.C. Everest volleyball team since her freshman season.

WESTON – Caroline Hehir has been handing out assists on the volleyball court seemingly since she started playing the sport.

The D.C. Everest senior became a setter in her early elementary school days and never moved from the position. It proved to be a smart decision as she has been one of the best in the Wisconsin Valley Conference during her prep career.

She was a second-team all-conference selection as a freshman, a first-team pick as a sophomore and a second-team honoree again as a junior.

Sharing setting duties with Natalie Mohring in the Evergreens’ 6-2 system on the court, Hehir came into the week averaging 5.65 assists per set.

Her production is a reason why the Evergreens are undefeated in the WVC this season and look like a team that could make a run for a second straight appearance in the WIAA state girls volleyball tournament.

“We ran a 5-1 (system with one setter) in her first year, which is a huge responsibility for a freshman. Then we had Natalie come into the program and since then we have been running the 6-2 and they have just got better and better as they support each other,” Everest coach Rita Jasurda said. “(Caroline’s) court vision is a huge thing and she is able to set each of our hitters for what they need. She is familiar with the speed of the set for each hitter as well as the height that they want it at. She can adjust really nice.”

You made your defense a point of emphasis this offseason. Talk about how you pushed yourself in that area: It was a main point for me coming in (to the year). I wanted to focus on my defense because I ended on a high note last year and wanted to keep building on that. In practice that’s one thing that I am constantly working on. Some days you struggle with it more, but it is something that I want to keep working on.

Is the defensive improvement due to just more and more playing or were there specific drills you worked on or camps you attended in the offseason? I think it has been more and more playing time, but also this summer at the Madison camp we did work a lot on defense. We had an entire session just devoted to defense, which was very helpful – just learning techniques there on (hitting) lines and being in the right spot and starting with a certain foot in front of you so you have a better push off.

Talk about the team in general here. Everest is off to another strong start this season. Is the team’s focus even stronger than last year to show that the trip to state wasn’t just a one-time thing? I think we felt we did have a lot to prove coming into (the year) because we are no longer the underdog team. We want to prove that we can make it back down (to state) again and each practice we are pushing each other.

Have you always been a setter or is it a position that you were eventually moved to? I have been a setter since second grade when I started playing volleyball. It has always been my thing. It was something I wanted to be in second grade and had the hands for it. I kept improving and in high school is when I really fell in love with it.

What is it about the position that made you want to be a setter in second grade? I don’t know. I guess it’s cool to be the one to set the hitter up and know that you are a part of nearly every play. Everyone is like, ‘Oh, the hitter made the kill.’ But you have to get the set there (to the hitter). Setting is very technical and I love the details with it.

What is your post graduation plan? I am going to (University of Wisconsin) Eau Claire. I am going into fine arts with an emphasis in photography and a minor in entrepreneurship. I’ve thought about (playing volleyball in college) and have kind of gone back-and-forth on it. I’ve gone to the Eau Claire (volleyball) camp since my freshman year and I know (Blugolds coach) Kim Wudi and talked to her a lot about where she would see me playing. So that is exciting knowing that there is a shot if I want to pursue volleyball (in college).

When did you interest in photography start? I’ve always been interested in art. It’s been a love since early on in elementary school. I think (photography) is an unique way to capture something and expresses so much. It’s something that I have a passion for. I’ve been lucky enough to intern for two summers at VOSStudios.

Tim Johnson: 715-845-0731, or timothy.johnson@gannettwisconsin.com; on Twitter@timmyjo11