Sports
Gimme 5: Chicago Christian's Becky DeRuiter Plays Volleyball for the Love of the Game
Junior middle hitter hopes to power Knights on a trek that leads them back to the state tournament.
For some people, volleyball is just a hobby. But for others, it's a passion.
Becky DeRuiter is a junior middle hitter at Chicago Christian and one of the state's most efficient attackers. She went into play this week with 144 kills and 103 blocks.
She has made the transition from novice to dominator. She picked up a volleyball for the first time in sixth grade and has been playing ever since.
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"I just love playing the game," she said. "And (I love) that feeling when you hit the ball and get a kill."
With DeRuiter leading the way, the Knights are charging into the final days of the regular season with a 17-8 record. Then comes the state tournament series and after that the nets come down--at least for a brief period.
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When that happens, DeRuiter said she will switch jerseys to play basketball and softball. But being a three-sport athlete isn't easy, not with all the other things going on her life.
Whether DeRuiter is running to Spanish, her favorite class, or listening to something embarrassing on her iPod by N'Sync or the Backstreet Boys, she doesn't have much downtime.
"I don't have much free time," she said. "But when I do, I just hang out with my friends mostly."
DeRuiter will be a senior next year, and you can bet she will be dominating the court once again.
