Doolin digging leadership role

Laura Doolin is not going to let her three years on varsity experience go to waste.

Doolin, an outside hitter/setter on the Batavia girls volleyball team, is the most experienced player on this year's team and in the Tri-Cities Area. She's the only Bulldog to have the title of "four-year varsity starter."

It's rare to find many players who have that label, but Doolin does - and is doing something with it.

Doolin is sure she's going to help lead Batavia to a successful season, similar to the one she enjoyed when she was a freshman. That year, the Bulldogs won a conference and regional title. As expected, hopes and expectations are high for the Bulldogs this season, as Doolin prepares to come full circle in her last year of high school volleyball.

"This year, I want to use the experience I have, especially (from) my freshman year," Doolin said. "I want to bring back that experience and that atmosphere back to the team."

Doolin speaks of her freshman year, 2005, like it was yesterday. She recalls being the youngster on a senior-packed team who welcomed her right away. That year, she played wherever coach Lori Trippi-Payne wanted her to.

"It was great for her to be a part of that," Trippi-Payne said of the successful 2005 season. "That was huge. It's not every year we have a freshman on varsity."

The same thing happened sophomore year. She played everywhere a little more, but was known as a hitter slightly more than a setter.

"We ran a 6-2, and that was really fun," Doolin said of her sophomore campaign.

After spending the first two years on varsity as one of the younger players, by her junior year, she was reunited with girls her own age.

"It was weird, but it was fun," said the 5-foot-9 Doolin. "It was great getting to know the girls in my own class better through volleyball because I was always with older girls."

Last year, Doolin recorded 187 kills (second on the team), had a 35 percent kill percentage (third), 30 aces, had a 96 percent serving accuracy (second), 214 assists (second) and 187 digs (second).

Because the seniors took Doolin under her wing, she's taken this year's lone freshman, Mary Nilles, under hers. She's been there. She knows what it's like to be the rookie. She also has a nice supporting cast of fellow seniors (7 total) with her.

"We have a great senior class, and a hard-working group," Doolin said. "This is our year."

This is Doolin's year to, once again, display her versatility, something Trippi-Payne thinks is the best thing about Doolin. Even though the season is underway, it's still undetermined what role she will have more with the Bulldogs - but that's a good thing, as the longtime head coach has plenty of options to consider.

"She'll be doing a lot of hitting," Trippi-Payne said. "She's a great passer and defensive player. We definitely need her there, so she'll be able to contribute doing a lot of different things.

"It definitely helps the lineup situation, that's for sure."

Doolin is happy to be so versatile, but she likes to set more than hit. But again, wherever Trippi-Payne needs her, she is there.

"(My versatility) is definitely good for our team," Doolin said. "I feel more comfortable and confident setting, but I don't doubt myself as an outside hitter. Setting is my main position."

Doolin will continue her skills as a setter at Bradley University. After she verbally committed over the summer, she became the 13th volleyball player from Batavia to head to a Division-I school.

"I'm really looking forward to it," Doolin said. "I can't wait for the college experience to start. It's kind of bittersweet this year because it's my last year and I'm so comfortable here... but Bradley is a good fit."

"We've been very fortunate," Trippi-Payne added.