[block, hit, win]
Volleyball has been a part of Elizabeth Orf’s daily routine since fifth grade. The junior at Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School started playing for both her school and a club team that year, and she’s never looked back. “I tried other sports, but when my parents asked if I wanted to play volleyball, it was just different,” she explains. “I liked it so much more than anything else, and while I still had to work hard, it came naturally to me.”
Natural talent is the perfect way to describe some of the 16-year-old’s success. Besides playing in the fall for Villa, she also plays for the St. Louis CYC Volleyball Club. “I switched club teams two years ago, and we’ve been nationally ranked both years I’ve been on the team (No. 5 her freshman year and No. 12 last year),” she says. “It’s really fun to play with girls from all over St. Louis.”
Until this year, Orf consistently played middle hitter. “Now, I’m back row, middle and outside hitter,” she says. Her two main jobs are blocking and hitting. “It’s been a learning experience and a challenge to play new positions, but I’m learning a lot. Every day I can tell I’m getting better.” She seems completely content playing any position on the court, as long as she’s out there. “I just love the team aspect of the sport and that it’s so quick,” Orf says. “We have amazing chemistry on the Villa team this year. There are so many great players and some who haven’t played a lot, but we’re all working together. You can definitely see the progression from the beginning of the season until now with how we’re all performing. And we have so much room to grow!”
Orf’s positive attitude surely has been instrumental to the team’s success. “State is at the end of October if we make it,” she explains. “My freshman year we made it to Sectionals, and last year we made it all the way to the State Championship and came in second. The goal, of course, is to make it back to State, but we really just want to play the best we can, and we’ll be happy.”
Her club team starts practice in December and participates in tournaments at the beginning of the year. “We travel five or six times throughout the season, and we hope to get a bid again this year to Nationals at one of the qualifying tournaments,” says Orf, who has already checked off one of her goals this year. “I really wanted the opportunity to play in college, and in April, I verbally committed to Marquette University,” she says. “I visited a few other schools, but Marquette had such a family atmosphere. I know they will take care of me, and I’ll become great friends with all the girls. I’m really excited to get there, and I know it’s the right spot for me!”
Anna Frick is a senior who breathed a sigh of relief about the big college decision a couple of years ago. The soccer star at Nerinx High School verbally committed her sophomore year to playing at the University of Missouri. Collegiate-level soccer has been a goal of hers since middle school.
“I’ve been playing through school since kindergarten and had the same coach until I graduated from Mary Queen of Peace,” Frick says. “I started playing club in second grade, which is when I really got into it.” She realized at a young age how much she enjoyed being on the field—and that her talents could get her far. She recalls knowing in the seventh grade that she would want to continue playing beyond high school, so she switched to a St. Louis Scott Gallagher club team. “I’ve been playing with some of the same girls since I was 7,” she notes. “I enjoy everything about being able to compete with my friends at the best level possible.”
It’s easy to hear the excitement in Frick’s voice when she’s talking about the game. As she explains her practice and game schedule throughout the year (“I’m always in some kind of season!”), she says there isn’t enough time to fit in all the soccer she wants. Tryouts for Nerinx the last week in February will kick off the school season. It’s safe to say Frick has a secure spot on the team; she’s been playing varsity since her freshman year. She’s quick to point out her team’s strength. “We won the St. Joe tournament a couple years ago, which was a big accomplishment, and every year we’re in the Top 10 in our districts,” Frick says. “Our huge win last year was against Webster, one of our rival schools.”
When she’s not playing center back and center mid positions for Nerinx, she’s in the center back position for her club team, which travels frequently for tournaments. “As center back, I’m a leader on the field,” she explains. “It’s more of a defensive position. I have to be aware of what all the other players are doing. I’m the last player back, so I can see what’s going on, and I’m the person who cleans everything up and tries not to let anything by me.”
The responsibility doesn’t faze the 18-year-old, and others have noticed her drive and her success. The Saint Louis Soccer Hall of Fame recently honored Frick with a Future Soccer Stars Award. Each year, the organization recognizes four local high school students, two female and two male, who excel in the sport. “They talked to my club and high school coaches and other local coaches to determine who should be honored,” she explains. “We attended a dinner earlier this month at America’s Center for the ceremony.” She can add it to her long list of accomplishments from the 2015 season: Nerinx Hall Varsity MVP, Most Valuable Defensive Player, Class 4 All Region Team, Class 4 All State Second Team, First Team All-Conference Award and All Metro Third Team. “Soccer is a passion for me,” Frick says. “I enjoy being able to go out every day and play.