Hoffman makes sure Batavia's success comes first

Batavia girls volleyball coach Lori Trippi-Payne had a plan for Kristin Hoffman when she made varsity as a sophomore for the 2005 season.

Hoffman, who started playing volleyball in sixth grade and was a setter in club since she was an eighth-grader, was asked to do try something she never did before -- be an outside hitter.

Hoffman was surprised enough to land a spot on varsity, but as a hitter? That was an even bigger surprise.

"The initial shock was so much, it was hard to handle," Hoffman said. "I didn't understand what was going on, but then I grew into my role."

Did she ever. With the change came a more versatile, all-around player in Hoffman, who is one of the area's top setters/hitters.

As a freshman on the sophomore team, Hoffman was a setter. Trippi-Payne, however, saw more potential in Hoffman in the first few days of putting together the 2005 team, which was senior-dominated.

The Bulldogs already had super setter Emma Lucia and lost outside hitter Jenna Kosek to graduation. Trippi-Payne also had to factor in freshman setter Laura Doolin.

Trippi-Payne didn't want two backup setters to Lucia. So moving Hoffman to hitter was best.

"She never played outside hitter in her life, but she looked really good," Trippi-Payne said. "She wound up beating out all the other kids who trained to be outsides, and did a nice job for us."

That year, Batavia went 25-13, won a conference title for the second time in school history and won its first-ever regional title.

Hoffman finished her sophomore year third in kills (149), digs (164) and service points (159) with 13 blocks, 24 aces and a 97 percent serving accuracy.

As a junior and with Lucia graduated, Hoffman and Doolin split the setting responsibilities. Hoffman, however, continued to shine as an outside, leading the team in kills with 195. She was also a team captain, first team all-conference and first team academic all-conference.

Hoffman also set a school record at Batavia last year with her 98 percent serving accuracy. The trend has continued this year, as she leads the team in kills (80) and digs (76), has a 91 percent serve-receive and 95 percent setting efficiency (through Wednesday's matches).

"She wants to be perfect all the time," Trippi-Payne said. "That's tough to do, but she really is tough behind that line serving."

Hoffman can serve, set and throw down kills. Her best game as a hitter was when she recorded a match-high 19 kills in a three-game win against Western Sun Conference opponent DeKalb Sept. 4. That was the first time in 6 years a Bulldog posted that many kills in a match.

Two days after the DeKalb match, however, Trippi-Payne switched Hoffman and Doolin. Hoffman, who is one of two seniors on the team, is now Batavia's No. 1 setter, and Doolin is an outside hitter.

Doolin did not mind the change. In her first game this season as a hitter in the conference win against Glenbard South Sept. 11, she recorded a team-high 7 kills, while Hoffman set 17 assists.

"I'm OK with (the change)," Doolin said. "Hoffman is a great setter and I think it's a great move for the team, and that's all that matters…I'm so confident when the ball comes to her that she's going to set me a good ball I can put down."

Hoffman is more than OK with the change as well.

"I'm more comfortable with setting," she said. "I like being able to have some say in the play, in every point and to be able to help the hitters out and to be able to communicate with the passers and everyone else on the court."

To her teammates and coach, it really doesn't matter what Hoffman is doing on the court. They know she makes a big difference as either a setter or a hitter.

"She's just a very good all-around player," Trippi-Payne said. "I like her at every position. She does a great job everywhere."

"She's so good, she's so fun and she's so encouraging," added junior middle hitter Melissa Norville added. "I wouldn't say she is better at one (position) than the other, but she's really good at decision-making. It's just really fun to play with her."

Hoffman's days as a hitter might be limited for the rest of high school. In college, she will be a full-time setter.

Earlier this year, Hoffman committed to play at Northern Illinois University, where she plans on going into pre-law.

In February, NIU was not on Hoffman's radar. In April, she visited DeKalb. By early May, she committed to be a Huskie.

"I hadn't really thought of Northern, but now, I don't really understand why I hadn't thought of it," Hoffman said. "It's a great school. (In February), I think I wanted to go far away for school, but now, I think the distance is awesome from my house. I think it will be a great fit."