Lady Hub senior Jesenia Solano took on a reserve role with Rochelle Township High School’s varsity volleyball team this past season, entering matches on specific plays to provide service balls and occasional back-row defense. Now entering her fourth and final year with the Lady Hub volleyball program, Solano will seek to become a more effective setter and passer.

Solano makes up a core group of senior players looking to follow up a historic 2019-20 season, where the Lady Hubs won 21 matches and reached the IHSA 3A Regional Finals. Solano, who has been a volleyball player since she was roughly 4 years old, has relished the competitive atmosphere and the friendships she’s made since taking up the sport at her young age.

“I feel I performed very well during my junior year,” Solano said. “I feel that I did very well serving and passing the ball. I hope to be able to improve my attacking skills this season… I want to be a player that my team and coach know they can depend on. This will take a lot of time and determination to improve my skills so they can rely on me to do my best on every play.”

While COVID-19 mitigations have made practice opportunities difficult for Lady Hub volleyball players, Solano and her teammates have taken advantage of offseason contact days, during the fall and winter months, to scrimmage and work on individual skills. With the start of her senior season only weeks away, Solano said she’s ready to handle the pace of the varsity level.

“I feel we performed great as a team last season,” Solano said. “I felt a really great connection with my teammates. Last season helped me deal with pressure situations and connecting with different teammates. My role on the team last year was to serve on some plays. I’m hoping that I can become a better passer and setter this year.”