Freshman Julia O’Keefe Shines in Varsity Debut for St. Laurence

4 weeks ago 0

Freshman Julia O’Keefe is making waves in volleyball, following in the footsteps of her father, Ed O’Keefe. Ed had his own achievements as Mount Carmel’s setter in 1992, playing alongside Donovan McNabb. He now coaches at the club level, and taught Julia to set from a young age.

Julia’s journey began in fourth grade with her father’s guidance. She recalls, “I just followed in his footsteps. We always worked together.” Their dedication paid off when she made her varsity debut for St. Laurence, leading the team to a 25-17, 25-16 win over Lincoln-Way West.

Standing at 5-foot-10, Julia assisted 15 out of 18 kills for St. Laurence. She also contributed with a kill, a block, and an ace. Teammates Aubrey Martinez and Abby Ambrose each secured six kills, while Lincoln-Way West faced challenges with hitting and serving errors.

Julia’s performance drew praise from her teammates. “Absolutely amazing,” said Martinez, who also recorded four aces. “I love working with her,” she added, impressed by Julia’s composure and skill.

Coach Ellen Yopchick was well aware of Julia’s capabilities before the season started. Julia had excelled in eighth grade at St. Barnabas, coached by her father Ed. Her past victories included a tournament win at St. Laurence.

Coach Yopchick highlighted Julia’s calm demeanor and high volleyball IQ. “She’s a great teammate,” Yopchick commented. Julia is the fourth freshman Yopchick has promoted to varsity, noting the importance of emotional and physical readiness.

Despite nerves, Julia appeared comfortable, acting as the team’s floor general. “There were definitely nerves,” she admitted. “But when you have nerves that means you are excited, so it was great.”

Julia entered the season with strong credentials, having been named an AAU All-American with her club team finishing fifth nationally in the open division at Indianapolis. “I was very surprised,” Julia remarked about the recognition.

She relishes the supportive environment at St. Laurence. “All the girls are welcoming and they don’t even make me feel like I’m a freshman,” Julia expressed, emphasizing the support she receives from teammates and coaches.