HS Volleyball Stop: After injury, Hough’s Ella Whittington having monster season

As the end of the 2022 volleyball season quickly approaches, the Hough Huskies sit alone at the top of the Queen City 3A/4A conference with a perfect 11-0 league record. One key piece of the Huskies’ success this season is outside hitter Ella Whittington.

The Huskies (18-3 overall) have one regular-season match remaining against Hopewell. Whittington has made the most of her time since missing the first nine matches of the season due to injury. The junior ranks in the top three in just about every statistical category on the team and is No. 1 in kills.

The Observer sat down with Whittington to talk about her season so far and the Huskies’ success. Her answers are lightly edited for brevity and clarity.

Q: After having to miss the first nine matches of the season, did you think it was a possibility to come back and lead your team in kills this season?

A: I knew from personal experience, having led my team in kills last season, I had hoped I would still be able to do that. I knew that it was probably unlikely for me to do that again given the amount of games I had missed. But, I really set that as a goal to achieve this season.

Q: Who or what made you fall in love with volleyball when you were younger?

A: When I was younger, I played basically every sport there is imaginable. Volleyball and basketball were the two that I only really liked because they are indoors. I just like the air conditioning and everything. I just fell in love with volleyball because I fell in love with the environment. I realized when I was young that I could hit the ball pretty hard and I loved that. It was just different than anything I had tried before.

Q: What was your rehab process like for your stress reaction in your leg? From a player’s perspective, how challenging was it for you to sit while I’m sure you were wanting to play?

A: It was horrible for me. I love to play and be out there with my team. Especially this year, I have had such a close bond with all of these girls. I’ve known all of them since I was in fifth, sixth and seventh grade. It was super hard for me not to be able to start the season with them. I was at practice one day and my leg was hurting really bad. So, I was like, ‘I am going to go see my athletic trainer,’ and she told me I needed to get an X-ray.

They told me that the fibula in my leg was swollen and I wasn’t going to be able to play for three to four weeks. This was before the season started and it was devastating to me because I had been looking forward to the season so much. I knew they would be fine without me, but it was really hard for me to sit on the sidelines watching them, knowing I can help them out by just bringing energy or cheering them on. It was just really hard for me.

Q: What do you feel are some of your team’s biggest strengths and maybe what are some of the biggest weaknesses?

A: I think one of our biggest strengths is definitely that we are a family. We love each other like sisters and we are always going to be there for each other and cheer each other on. At the same time, we aren’t afraid to tell one another what we need to hear. That’s not necessarily a weakness, but it can come across sometimes meaner than we want it to.

Q: What is the one thing that you feel will give you guys the edge over your opponents come playoff time?

A: Again, it goes back to the family thing. We are all so close and work together so well. I think it is just that we are all in such a loving and supportive environment and that really helps us out a lot.

Q: With one more season still to go at Hough, what is your largest goal for the team, yourself or both?

A: Obviously my goal for the team is to win a state championship. I think we are so capable of it, and if we put our minds to it then we can definitely do it. For my personal goals, I would love to finish the season again leading my team in kills. I had a goal of reaching 1,000 kills before the end of my senior year. But, missing the first nine games this year took a toll on that. I think it would be pretty crazy to be able to reach that now because some of the games we play might not be as competitive and I might not be playing. I think overall, a big goal is to just get everything I can out of the time I have left.

Matches to Watch

Wednesday: No. 2 Ardrey Kell will face the Providence Panthers. If Palisades wins out and Providence upsets Ardrey Kell, there could be a shakeup at the top of the SoMeck 4A conference.

Thursday: No. 11 Cox Mill squares off against South Iredell for the second time this season. The Chargers took game one, but with both teams sitting with a 9-1 conference record, this game will likely determine the Greater Metro 4A Conference Champion.

The Observer’s Sweet 16

Dropped Out: South Rowan (14-5). On the Bubble: South Rowan (14-5), Providence (14-7), Pine Lake Prep (13-5), South Iredell (12-7)