Gotham City has Batman and Robin.
Santa Fe Trail has its own dynamic duo in Trudy and Jessi.
Jessi Johnson, SFT's shortest volleyball player as a 5-foot setter, and Trudy Carter, SFT's tallest as a 6-2 middle hitter, have been key contributors during the Chargers' 16-0 season.
"I wish I was taller," Johnson said before Tuesday's triangular at McLouth "Then I could block. Being short has some advantages. You're closer to the court to dig out balls."
Johnson is listed at 5-foot on SFT's roster, but Charger coach Susan Averill isn't so sure.
"She wants everybody to think she is 5-foot," Averill said.
"How tall are you ... 4-10, 4-11?" Averill asked Johnson.
"I'm 5-foot," Johnson responded with a wink.
Johnson first caught Averill's attention nearly 10 years ago.
"She had been coming to our games since the third grade," Averill said. "When our senior setter graduated, she had played so much and, in my opinion, she was better than anyone."
Johnson and Carter, all-state selections last year after the Chargers placed third at the Class 4A state tournament, have been varsity members for four years. Since their freshman year, the Chargers have finished first, second and third at state.
"We're really good friends on and off the court," said Johnson, a four-year starter.
Johnson and Carter play year-around together as members of Quick Sets, a junior volleyball team based out of Tonganoxie.
A high percentage of Johnson's sets find Carter on the attack.
"She's one of our big guns," Johnson said.
And Carter can count on a pinpoint set.
"Most of the time she's right on unless the ball slips in her hand and that doesn't happen very often," Carter said.
Though Johnson and Carter play different positions, the SFT coach says the two embody the same intangibles.
"They both bring leadership to the team and a passion for the game," Averill said. "There really isn't anybody on our team that they don't work well with. We're very lucky. What makes us so good is we have lots of people who can hit. When they try to cover our two key people, it opens up other people."
Carter, Johnson, junior Jami Sleichter, senior Cassie Augustine and senior Leslie Ganger return as starters from last year's 36-5 team.
The Chargers are coming off a weekend team title at the Topeka Seaman tournament that featured a three-game final victory over Free State High, ranked No. 3 in Class 6A.
"That was awesome," Johnson said. "We had never beaten Free State. That was better than state."
-- Steve Rottinghaus' phone message number is 832-7152. His e-mail address is srottinghaus@ljworld.com
No comments
Commenting is turned off for this story.