The Senators’ leading rebounder and second leading scorer behind Christi Gladdis was fighting a personal conflict that isn’t uncommon among stars in both volleyball and basketball.

The junior had to make a choice between one or the other, especially when she just wasn’t into playing basketball this season.

“I came home that first day of camp and told my mom it felt funny, different than I thought it would,” Alisha said, referring to her mother, Sharon, who is the Washington Township volleyball coach.

“At first I thought maybe it was because Christi wasn’t there. But every night I would just beat myself to death about it. I just felt like my heart wasn’t in it.”

Having her mother as the volleyball coach, as well as a brother who plays for the boys volleyball team, didn’t help with other people’s perception.

“It was tough around (the house) for a while. We didn’t want to force her to make any decision,” Sharon said. “We threw all kinds of decisions at her. We didn’t want to turn our back on her and say it was all her decision.”

Polite is not alone. More than any other pair of girls sports in high school, the stand-out players in volleyball and basketball usually coincide.

Maybe it’s because the seasons are back-to-back, and actually overlap when teams advance far into the postseason. Maybe it’s because the sports are similar roster size and the teamwork involved.

All-Area players in volleyball like Lisa Schulfer of Lowell, Julie DeMuth of Merrillville, Cassie Kerns of Valparaiso, and Polite are also stars, and even possible All-Area candidates in basketball.

Ashley Edinger of Michigan City also can be included among those athletes.

The sophomore made the Post-Tribune Volleyball All-Area Second Team this season after posting impressive numbers as a freshman basketball player.

She averaged around nine points per game and led the Duneland Conference in rebounding with more than 10 per game despite giving up 3 or 4 inches to bigger players at the center position.

Edinger, though, turned out to be more like Polite than the other aforementioned volleyball-basketball players as she has decided to stop playing basketball to focus on club volleyball in the off-season.

“When I was growing up I played a lot of sports. But now that I’m grown, I want to stick with one,” Edinger said.

She started playing basketball at 5 while not starting in volleyball until fourth grade. But her love for the latter has surpassed the loyalty to the former.

“When you start playing volleyball, it can be addicting,” she said. “You never see anyone with a frown on the volleyball court.”

Well, maybe once in a while.

Love of the game

The word 'love’ is commonly heard from volleyball players regarding their sport, even from those who seemingly would love basketball more.

“I totally love playing volleyball,” said Calumet’s Kiki Bytnar, who has made the Post-Tribune All-Area Basketball Team the last three years and signed a letter of intent to play hoops at Eastern Illinois University.

“I have more fun playing volleyball than basketball, but I know basketball is my future. It has crossed my mind to play volleyball at Eastern Illinois, but that’s up to my coach.”

And then some players just can’t make up their minds.

“It’s hard to say (which one I like more),” Kerns said. “When I’m in basketball season, I miss volleyball and I love it. But then when I’m in volleyball season, I miss basketball. I guess you miss what you don’t have at the time.”

Kerns is unique in that she has the athletic ability and stature to thrive in both sports. At 6-foot-3, she towers above most of the competition in basketball, while in volleyball that height and her jumping ability make her a lethal force at the net.

But the junior who is averaging more than 13 points and six rebounds per game already knows that her future will be basketball.

“Right now I know my options are more open in basketball,” she said. “I love volleyball but everything just clicks in basketball.”

Tough choices

Choosing between the two sports, though, isn’t as easy for some of the local stars.

Lowell has a pair of athletes who could play either one at the next level, and only one of them has made a decision. But it wasn’t until recently that the senior made that choice.

“Up until last year, I wasn’t totally sure which one I would play,” said Red Devils’ senior center Lisa Schulfer. “I’m good at basketball. I’m coordinated and I can jump, but I’m more of a volleyball player.”

The player setting up most of her scalding kills in volleyball is still undecided, even though a scholarship at a small college is a definite possibility.

“I’m not quite sure on which one yet,” said senior guard McKensey Wietbrock, who also serves as the setter in volleyball. “I’m up in the air. I love them both but I’ve been leaning towards basketball. I’ve made tapes to send out for both.”

Other prominent area female athletes who strive in both include Becca Papach of Whiting (All-Area 2nd team in volleyball, 2nd team in basketball), Karissa Walter of Boone Grove (All-Area 2nd team in basketball), and Alyse and Becca Bruszewski of Wheeler.

Most parents and coaches promote diversity in athletics and want their kids to play as many sports as possible.

“It’s very easy to burn out and a variety of sports can be good,” said Valparaiso volleyball coach Michelle Sullivan. “It’s unique to be talented in both. It can be a blessing and a curse.”

And that brings us back to Polite, who has felt a little cursed over the last month since the basketball season has started.

Her parents encouraged the junior to keep playing both sports. They even went as far as trying to bribe her.

“My dad asked me if I would still play basketball if he bought me a Monte Carlo,” Polite said. “I told him I would drive the worst car in the world and still play volleyball. If my best friend gave me a choice between the friendship and volleyball, I would still play volleyball.”

Despite her confirmation that the decision was all hers and had nothing to do with the basketball coaches or team itself, Polite had to deal with a lot of grief and rumors as to why she chose volleyball.

It got worse when she attended the first home game as a fan and thought she would miss it.

“I was dumfounded. It was so weird because I really didn’t miss it at all,” she added. “One of my teachers told me if I could take all the crap I was dealing with for the love of the game, and still be able to play volleyball, then it was the right decision.”

She still attends club volleyball practices every Monday, Wednesday and Sunday, so it’s the right decision so far.

Contact Steve T. Gorches

at 648-3141 or by e-mail