Dudzinski leads Kaneland’s attack

Updated: September 27, 2011 6:44PM

Walk softly and carry a big … hit?

Well, yes and no.

At 6-foot-2, Kaneland senior Katy Dudzinski isn’t about to sneak up on any Knight volleyball opponent, especially not after putting down a school-record 344 kills during her team’s 19-win season a year ago.

When she skies above the net to hammer down yet another ball set by junior Ashley Prost or sophomore Jenny Lubic, foes are well aware of what’s coming. Duck and cover, unless you dare to dig.

“She kills the ball,” says Prost with an almost reverent tone when asked if there’s any doubt about Dudzinski’s killer instinct because of the ever-present smile she always seems to flash.

“She doesn’t care about hitting another girl in the face.”

Dudzinski, a Wichita State University recruit who joined several other Division I prospects from DeKalb last summer to help her Kane County Junior club team win a national title, laughs when asked the same question.

While admitting she may have to work on that ‘game face’ look, she’s quick to add, “I’m very ultra competitive. I might be smiling, but I’m out for blood. I go up there and hit the ball as hard as I can every single time. I guess you could call that killer instinct.

“A lot of people (on the team) say they look to me for that big hit, the momentum, because it’s unique, I guess. I get really excited, always smiling, obviously, so it’s fun to help the team, both playing and the emotional side of it.”

Coach Todd Weimer says he likes nothing better than seeing Dudzinski rotate into the front row when his team is in a tight game coming down to the wire.

“This is where you want to be,” he said, “especially if it’s something like 22-22. The last three points, who do you think the ball is going to? … She’s a phenomenal attacker and she’s pretty close to what she had last year (numbers-wise) already.

“I’m like, ‘Holy cow, our kill percentage is much better and our blocking is much better.’ It might be awhile before we get another Katy Dudzinski (here), so we’ve really got to enjoy it.”

And that’s after losing two veteran setters (Jessica Lubic and Taylor Bradbury) to Northern Illinois and Lake Forest College, respectively, from last year’s team. Prost and the younger Lubic have worked hard to mesh with the team’s leader.

“I noticed it from the first day of camp, they want to work,” said Dudzinski. “We’d have a break and they’d come to me before I could ask and see if we could work together during the break. They’re always looking to get better.”

So far, so good. The Knights have just one loss in conference so far (to DeKalb) and get a rematch with the Barbs at home on Oct. 11 in a match Kaneland hopes will be for a share of the title. The Knights haven’t won a league corwn since 1981 or a regional title since 1991.

“I was born in 1980,” said Weimer. “And the last regional, 1991? Unacceptable. These girls weren’t even born then.”

A lot will depend on Dudzinski, who’s worked to develop more than just a power game.

“I have always had a hard time judging sets and seeing the block and finding the hole,” she said. “My (club) coach taught me how to swing hard over the block. It’s not perfect yet, but I’m working on it. It’s coming along.”

She knows her hitting will need more variety when she gets to college. That’s one reason why she chose the Shockers and coach Chris Lamb, who offered her without even seeing her play, based upon the recommendation of a PAC-12 coach (Arizona’s David Rubio) who had also recruited Dudzinski.

“I think it’s the perfect program for me,” said Dudzinski. “(Lamb) recruits kids who aren’t super refined, like big, tall, athletic, Katys, I guess. Arizona wanted a more polished player. Coach Lamb is more like, ‘I’ll get you there.’ It was kind of crazy but he’s very sure of himself.”

He’s got plenty to work with, says Weimer, adding, “He’s gonna do awesome things with her.”

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