How Hailey Duker, Gabi Weidemann’s selflessness is powering Mars girls volleyball’s playoff run
ADAMS TWP — Hailey Duker was asked to be selfless for the second time in as many summers.
Originally a middle blocker, Duker transitioned to setter ahead of her junior year because Mars girls volleyball needed someone to fill the role. A year later, with new talent joining the roster, she was asked to move back to her original position.
That selfless attitude has been part of the team identity that propelled the Planets to a a section championship and WPIAL Class 3A crown this year. It’s helping them during their run in the PIAA state tournament, as well. In the quarterfinals, Mars faces off against Hampton for the third time this season at North Allegheny High School at noon Saturday.
“We recognized that she was too valuable as a middle not to have on the court and too valuable as a player, as a senior — with her experience — not to be on the court,” head coach Tami Caraway said after Tuesday night’s PIAA Class 3A first-round home sweep of Central Mountain.
“What a great thing Hailey did for us last year with no setter coming up,” Caraway added. “Being willing in the summer time for us to look at her. She had big, strong hands. She had good feet — former soccer player. (We asked) ‘Would you be willing to learn?’”
Now a senior, Duker accepted her role changes each year. She set her first fast-tempo ball on the second day of tryouts last season, then was the distributor of a 5-1 rotation the entire campaign.
“I really just fell in love with the position,” she said.
Then Gabi Weidemann moved into the school district from Minnesota during the summer. She had “a little bit more experience, a little bit more polish” as a setter, Caraway said of the freshman, who’d played for the Northern Lights Junior Volleyball Club, and Weidemann won the job.
Weidemann had never moved before and said the change of scenery was tough. She said she’s been playing volleyball “as long as I can remember.” The sport helped her get used to her new home.
“It was hard coming in new, definitely, and being really young,” Weidemann said. “But the girls were really welcoming.”
That included Duker, who had to settle back into her old role of middle blocker.
“I was a little upset at first,” Duker said. “I looked at the chance to go back and play middle again. I just want to be on the court. I didn’t really care what position I was playing.
“It took a minute,” Caraway said. “It’s a very different mindset. She’s always been the person — obviously as an example of last year — who wanted to do what’s best for the team. I admire that with Hailey.”
Weidemann, who had 51 assists in the district championship Saturday and 32 Tuesday against Central Mountain, is just as team-oriented.
“She never is looking for the spotlight,” Caraway said. “She just can’t wait to celebrate with the next person.”
“I think we have a really great group of girls, and we just are really hard workers,” Weidemann said. “We know what’s on the line.”
