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Despite injury, Duke shows flexibility
Evanston's Caroline Duke (1) jumps up to block a shot against Byron in the Glenbrook North Discovery Tournament on Saturday at New Trier in Winnetka. | Rob Hart~Sun-Times Media
Playoff schedule
Loyola Regional
Oct. 22
No. 13 Lane vs. No. 19 Amundsen, 6 p.m.
No. 11 Maine West vs. No. 21 Steinmetz, 7 p.m.
Oct. 23
No. 4 Loyola vs. Lane/Amundsen, 6 p.m.
No. 5 Niles North vs. Maine West/Steinmetz, 7 p.m.
Oct. 25
Regional final, 6 p.m.
Trinity Regional
Oct. 22
No. 15 Lake View vs. No. 17 Taft
Oct. 23
No. 2 Trinity vs. Lake View/Taft, 6 p.m.
No. 7 Evanston vs. No. 10 Payton, 7 p.m.
Oct. 25
Regional final, 6 p.m.
Maine East Regional
Oct. 22
No. 14 Von Steuben vs. No. 18 Foreman, 6 p.m.
No. 12 Maine East vs. No. 22 Lincoln Park, 7 p.m.
Oct. 23
No. 3 Niles West vs. Von Steuben/Foreman, 6 p.m.
No. 6 Oak Park-River Forest vs. Maine East/Lincoln Park, 7 p.m.
Oct. 25
Regional final, 6 p.m.
Prosser Regional
Oct. 22
No. 16 Schurz vs. No. 20 Prosser, 7 p.m.
Oct. 23
No. 1 New Trier vs. Schurz/Prosser, 6 p.m.
No. 8 Maine South vs. No. 9 Leyden, 7 p.m.
Oct. 25
Regional final, 6 p.m.
Niles North Sectional
Oct. 30
Prosser Regional winner vs. Loyola Regional winner, 6 p.m.
Trinity Regional winner vs. Maine East Regional winner, 7 p.m.
Nov. 1
Sectional final, 7 p.m.
Niles West Supersectional
Nov. 3
Larkin Sectional winner vs. Niles North Sectional winner, TBA
Updated: November 12, 2012 11:40AM
WINNETKA — When Evanston senior Caroline Duke looks at her hands, she’s provided with a reminder of how her 2011 volleyball season ended.
Duke broke her thumb sliding into second base while playing club softball in September 2011. The injury, which left her thumb permanently crooked, forced her to miss the second half of Evanston’s 2011 campaign.
While the disappointment from missing the second half of last season remains, Duke’s thumb injury has allowed her to develop a greater appreciation for playing volleyball this year.
“Going to practice every day, not being able to play and watching your team play every day without you is definitely a hard thing,” Duke said. “I feel more privileged every day when I get the opportunity to play. The way I think about it is now I have the opportunity to play, where last year I thought it was a given.”
Duke has been invaluable to the Wildkits throughout her senior season, because of both her leadership and flexibility. Although Duke was a setter last season and will set at Carleton College (Minn.) next year, Evanston coach Pam MacPherson has asked her to accept different roles this season.
Duke is currently playing right-side hitter in order for the Wildkits to have her and senior setter Arianna Salas, who are two of the team’s most consistent players, on the court as much as possible.
“She’s a captain, and she works really hard,” MacPherson said. “She puts her heart and soul into the team. She’s taken a big personal hit for the team by not playing setter. … Our other setter, Arianna (Salas), is doing a really good job running the court. But we feel they’re both definitely people we need to have on the court at all times. I think they’re both helping us with that.”
