For four years, Lisa Henning enjoyed great success at Blue Springs High School.
The brilliant 6-foot-1 middle hitter helped the Wildcats claim four consecutive Suburban Big Seven Conference championships and she capped her career by leading Blue Springs to a state final four berth.
Although Ozark beat the Wildcats 28-26, 22-25, 25-17 in the Class 4 state championship match, Henning led all players with 16 kills.
“Lisa is one of the greatest players I have ever coached or coached against,” Wildcats coach Katie Grusing said. “No one worked harder than Lisa, and when your top player is one of your hardest workers, the other players notice.
“We’re really going to miss her, but we know she’s going to be very successful at the next level.”
Now that her prep career is over, Henning can start planning and preparing for the next level as she has signed to play volleyball at the University of Missouri.
And the Tigers are getting The Examiner’s 2009 High School Volleyball Player of the Year.
“It’s an honor to be named Player of the Year,” said Henning, who is the fourth consecutive Wildcat to claim the honor. “Kaylee (Miller) and Morgan (Reynolds, the past two years) won the award and we were all so happy for them.
“They were great players for our team. And to be named a Player of the Year is really special. I’d trade it for a state championship, but I know that’s not possible, so I’m very happy to win the honor.”
From the first day Henning walked onto the court at Blue Springs High School she was a difference maker.
“What Lisa does so well is she sees the defense and sees the blocks,” former Wildcats coach Evan Manuel said. “She has a variety of offensive weapons she uses to put the ball on the floor. She does that as well as anyone I’ve ever seen for her age.”
Manuel made that comment when Henning was a freshman.
And she’s continued to work hard to improve her game, while making those players around her that much better. This season she amassed 390 kills while hitting at a 32.5 percentage. She also led the Wildcats with 69 blocks and 57 aces. She showed her versatility by totaling 255 digs on the defensive end, an average of three per game. Henning was named first-team all-state by the Missouri High School Volleyball Coaches Association and was a second-team All-America pick by the AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association).
“Lisa is a great teammate,” said right-side hitter Kirsten Erickson, a fellow member of The Examiner’s All-Area first team. “Every team focuses on her and it opens up other things from the front row. Plus, she’s a lot of fun to be around.”
Fun.
That word kept popping up in the conversation when talking about Henning’s award-winning senior year.
“I’ve had fun all four years at Blue Springs,” Henning said, “but I’ve never had as much fun as we had this year. Grusing and all the girls were so much fun. I can remember several times we’re just rolling on the court laughing.
“I know that sounds strange, but that’s what this team was like. We were like a family – a family that really loves each other and knows how to have fun.”
When asked about any special moments over the past four years, Henning paused.
“There were just too many to name them all,” she said. “Beating (Blue Springs) South was always fun and winning four conference championships.
“Our dream was going to state, and we finally went this year (making the state championship match for the first time in school history), but we didn’t win. That still bugs me. But it doesn’t take away all the good times we had.
“I’m really going to miss Blue Springs, but I’m looking forward to all the new challenges in my life.”
Blue Springs, MO —
