ALTAMONT — Entering her junior season, Altamont graduate Hope Roedl was getting ready to learn a position she had never played before.
Roedl had never played libero at any level of volleyball before that season, but quickly latched onto it.
“She works unbelievably hard and is the first one to come to practices that she’s not required to be at or stay after and get some work done,” former head coach Branden Wright said. “She has earned everything. She’s a joy to be around.”
Confidence was the key for Roedl.
And that showed as a senior, when she finished the year with the second-most digs in the area (432) to go along with eight kills, 19 service aces, one blocked shot and nine assists. Roedl earned the Effingham Daily News Volleyball Defensive Player of the Year after the season concluded.
“We do things on a three-point scale just like the majority of other programs. She passed a 2.1 on the second-most attempts, which was a big improvement from last year,” Wright said. “She became more confident in her role.”
Roedl mentioned that all of the challenges she faced learning the position were all in her head.
“All of my challenges I faced in volleyball were mental. Fortunately, I had an amazing support system who cared about me as a person and a player,” Roedl said. “I also had amazing teammates.”
Having a former libero as an assistant coach was just as impactful.
Wright brought along former St. Elmo-Brownstown libero Shelby Sasse to be his assistant the last two seasons.
“When I took over, passing was something I’d never been taught. I just figured it out,” Wright said. “Having Shelby, who is passing and defensive-centered, is instrumental. Hope and her worked tirelessly together.”
Roedl said she took the club season as a learning season for her after her junior year ended.
“I didn’t focus on winning, but rather growing as a player and that resulted in many ups and downs but ultimately I gained a lot of volleyball knowledge that I carried into my senior year.”
Roedl earned a spot on the National Trail Conference All-Conference First Team after her superb campaign.
That was an honor for her.
“It was an amazing feeling,” Roedl said. “It had never occurred to me that earning that would be possible.”
Roedl’s last year as a volleyball player came this past season.
She is not furthering her playing career in college.
Roedl said that representing Altamont for the last four years was all that she could have asked for.
“It was so much more than a jersey,” Roedl said.
“Wearing that jersey meant that I was representing my whole community. When you put on an Altamont jersey, you aren’t playing for yourself; you’re playing for your parents and grandparents, but the best part is the responsibility you hold no matter how heavy that weight feels.”