BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
Sofia Simic's sister Mila earned her first state medal by winning the recent 3-1A tennis championship.
Sofia's elusive quest of earning a 3A state volleyball championship medal continues at Saturday's Lakin substate. Simic's Hoisington Cardinals (31-7) play Scott City (25-13) with Lakin (37-1) meeting Norton (13-21).
Coach Mykela Bartz's Cardinals have been two points away from qualifying for the 3A state championship match the past two years.
"Weve come close to taking state the past two years," said Simic in an interview with Cole Reif of Kansas Sports Chatter. "Your goal is to win state. We've prepared for this moment. It feels like our year."
University of Illinois volleyball commit Simic leads the Cardinals with 409 winners, 111 ace serves, 324 serves, 248 serves received, 184 blocks and 24 blocks.
"Each year, I've taken a bigger role being stronger, taller and more mature," she said. "I feel I get targeted on service receive. I play the same way no matter who's on the other side."
The Cardinals' other statistical leaders are Kinley Wilkens (327 serves, 239 serves received, 209 winners, 197 digs, 47 aces); Reese Vaughn (430 assists, 375 serves, 132 digs); Reese Aylward (353 serves received, 189 digs); Brynn Tarlton (330 assists) and Trinity Graves (28 blocks).
Simic's biggest weapon is her jump serve. She owns the state record for ace serves.
"I try to get as much speed and spin on that ball as i can," she said. "I hit the ball hard. I've worked on placing it better as I've gotten older. My goal is 'see ball, hit ball hard.' It's worked out pretty well."
Simic's mother Sarah (Cotten) Simic earned all-state honors at Hoisington and played college volleyball at Alabama.
"I remember playing volleyball since I can remember," Simic said. "She installed the sport in me."
Sofia practices tennis with her sister occasionally.
"If we could do dual sport at Hoisington, I would've played tennis as well," Sofia said. "Tennis helps me with volleyball by moving laterally. It's a good way for me to stay agile. If she needs to play a match, it depends on the day. It's competitive. I enjoy it until we start talking trash."
Sofia's Serbian-born 6-foot-7 father Milan Simic played college basketball at Stephen F. Austin, Texas.
Milan's Serbian contacts landed Sofia a summer training session with a Serbian volleyball program.
"I spent a month in Serbia training with their national team." Sofia said. "Some of the girls have played for the Serbian National Team. The first week we worked on ball control. If you're a middle you're trained to set the ball. My setting definitely improved.
"The offense is quicker, the speed is faster," she said. "I had to adjust to that. High school has helped me with learning how to hit 'out of system.' The passes aren't always perfect. You learn to hit the ball from anywhere. High school gives me that opportunity."
