Pair’s presence on court a big help to the team
North Idaho College sophomores Sarah Johnston and Katie Lippi might not have next year’s plans set in stone, but their presence on the volleyball court this year has helped net 30 wins and less than a handful of losses in the Scenic West Athletic Conference.
“I love being an outside hitter,” said Johnston, of Priest River. “In that position, I can pretty much do what I want, and I don’t have to block the middle (of the net).”
Johnston has been playing volleyball since the seventh grade. She plans to major in elementary education but has no particular collegiate destination for next year even though she would like to prolong her collegiate volleyball career.
“The counselor and I are looking into it (colleges for her junior and senior years), but as of now I don’t know where I’ll be next year,” she said.
NIC coach Bret Taylor said Johnston has put in a lot of effort into honing her volleyball skills this year and has improved tremendously.
“She doesn’t always get the recognition, but she is part of the rock that sets the foundation for this team,” he said.
Lippi, of Sandpoint, is the team’s libero.
“I basically run the backcourt,” Lippi said. “The officials track the liberos, so we have to wear different color uniforms from our teammates, and the substitution rules are different for us.”
The position was introduced to collegiate volleyball in 1998. Liberos specialize in defensive skills and cannot block or attack. When the ball is not in play, the libero can replace any back-row player, without prior notice to the referees. Her substitutions also do not count against the 12-substitution limit each team is allowed per set.
Lippi hopes to follow in her mother’s footsteps and get her teaching credentials. Pam Lippi is a physical education teacher at Farmin Stidwell Elementary School in Sandpoint. Her father, Jim, owns Ivano’s Italian restaurant in Sandpoint.
Lippi’s favorite memories of volleyball include her senior year of high school, when her team lost only one game and captured the state title.
Lippi has played volleyball since the third grade and, like Johnston, is intent on continuing her volleyball career somewhere else next year.
“Right now, I may go to Tennessee State to play volleyball, but it is really too soon to know for sure,” she said.
Taylor, who has coached Lippi both in club volleyball and at NIC, said she is a very determined and aggressive player.
“As a libero, she is close to a perfectionist – very-strong willed – and is our backcourt general, with a great serve,” he said.
“Both kids have great family support and are great students. They will help in the community any time I request their help, whether it involved drug and alcohol awareness programs or having lunch with elementary school kids, they are always ready and willing.”