Blocking isn’t always a glamorous job, and junior Alison Lapic knows it. Still, she embraces her role in the middle, doing the dirty work at the net that gives her team the edge.
Growing up in a household where she was always supported by her parents, Lapic knew she could chase her dream of playing volleyball. When she came into Burke High School’s open gyms for volleyball her freshman year, the coaches immediately put her height to their advantage in the position of middle blocker.
Playing middle isn’t just about blocking shots; it’s about chemistry and precision. For Lapic, that means building trust with her setter and sharpening her timing on every play she makes.
“This season I have been practicing my timing with my setter,” Lapic said. “Being able to start my approach right when the ball hits the setter’s hands is very important so that I can hit the ball as soon as it reaches its peak in the air.”
While she has been working on the timing of her attack, this isn’t the hardest thing for Lapic in her role as a middle blocker. There are multiple things a middle blocker is responsible for during a match; however, some responsibilities are more difficult to maintain than others.
“The most difficult part of being a middle is when you’re in a long rally and you’re consistently shuffling to transition so you can get an approach in and also shuffling to each hitter across the net to try and put up a big block,” Lapic said.
This is a very difficult part of her role, but she does have times where she feels rewarded after a play. Getting a huge point helps her forget about previous plays that may not have been the best.
“The most rewarding part of playing my position is most definitely when I block a ball and everyone in the stands can hear it hit my hands and then hit the floor,” Lapic said.
There are times on the court when things don’t go as planned for the team. Lapic always tries her best to keep everyone in high spirits, even if they lost a point. It’s important to her to keep the energy up during a match.
“I try to keep my energy up and the team’s energy up throughout the game by reminding the team and myself that we’ve got this and we’re doing great,” Lapic said.
During Lapic’s career, there have been many moments on the court. Some ended well, others not so well. One moment, however, has stuck with her.
“I will always remember one of my JV games from last year against Millard West,” Lapic said. “I remember I had a bunch of kills and blocks that game and our team had won. It was such a fun game!”
Throughout Lapic’s volleyball career, she’s been through many ups and downs. All of these experiences on the court have made her the player she is today. This whole high school experience of playing with her best friends will stay with her forever.
