When asked to describe the 2021 season in one word, NDCL senior Caroline Jurevicius went with humbling.
“We were coming off of a big 2020 season and did a lot of things that people didn’t expect us to do,” Jurevicius said. “We go into the 2021 season thinking that we got this after our run a season ago. We thought it would be easy just to get back there. But when we were knocked out by Lake Catholic in the regional semifinals, it was a very somber moment for us.”
Last season, Jurevicius split time with the Lions and the Team USA U18 team. It affected her performance at NDCL. The Lions advanced to the regional semifinals but fell to Lake Catholic.
As this year came around, she made the decision to focus on NDCL with one last ride as a senior. And it’s proven to be the correct decision as the Lions are back in the Division II state semifinals. The Lions’ state semifinal is slated for Nov. 11 as they take on 26-1 Union Local. Their game is slated for a noon start.
Jurevicius has been the leader of the attack again but has also proven to be a game-changer on defense, as well. Rather than having her attention in multiple places, it’s allowed for Jurevicius to focus on the challenges for NDCL.
“With the focus being on NDCL this season, it’s undivided attention and there’s no excuses,” Jurevicius said. “That goes for everyone. If we’re all dialed in with no external forces going upon you, you have no reason as to why you can’t play at your best.”
Her refocus hasn’t just benefited herself but the rest of the team as a whole. Fellow seniors like Lauren Janosy and Caitlyn Cvitkovic have been able to work with her and become strong options as well.
She has also been a strong influence for the pair of young setters in sophomore Marisa Brock and freshman Grace Daniels. She knew that she needed to help the younger members of the Lions roster get ready for the challenges awaiting them this season.
“Part of being a senior leader is knowing that your time is limited,” Jurevicius said. “It’s a majority senior team as well with seven seniors on the roster, so making sure that the underclassmen are prepared and they know just how to run a practice and know what it means to play for the team. Making sure that a precedent is set so that even once they filter out of the program, it continues to be that legacy of success. We still have it from the 2014 state championship group and I want to make sure that gets carried on.”
A big difference from this season to last has been the breaks between matches when she’s been able to rest. Rather than traveling from game to game for two teams, she’s taken advantage of the days between games for the Lions.
Coach Tom Ray has seen her take advantage of this more this season than in years past and that has paid dividends for both her and the team.
“Her body has actually had time to heal,” Ray said. “She had a stress fracture in her foot that she played on. Last year she had stress fractures in her shins and her shoulder was bothering her. When you overuse and never take a break, she works a lot in the offseason as well, she wants to be great. And when you put your body through that, it’s not just physical fatigue. Last year you could tell that she was frustrated, but I could also see that she was stretched in 100 different ways. This year she’s more at ease and more comfortable with who she is.”
A healthy Jurevicius has helped the Lions navigate their challenging schedule with a 17-7 record.
In the Crown Conference, it’s a challenge every time on the floor, and NDCL learned that firsthand. In the middle of the season, they suffered a four-game losing streak. But even with those struggles, having a player like Jurevicius go through it with the team was helpful for everyone.
“It really helps our chemistry on the team,” Ray said. “It’s hard when you have a kid that’s there and a big personality like Caroline is, and then all of a sudden she’s gone to take care of the business she needs to take care of. It was a big readjustment period and with how short the high school season is that it is a very big challenge. This year we’ve been able to be more consistent. Caroline is a special player and she gives us a lot of stability.”
When she entered her senior year, Jurevicius had made her college commitment to Nebraska and had enough credit hours to graduate early and depart for Lincoln ahead of schedule.
Instead, she decided to stay with the Lions and have one last pursuit of another banner in the gymnasium.
The unfinished business of a state title being the last thing on her high school checklist, as well as coming up short two seasons ago proved to be the driving forces behind her decision to return, as well.
“I don’t think in good conscience I couldn’t leave NDCL without doing something one last time,” Jurevicius said. “I want to have one banner on the wall. That will make me satisfied not just with my career here but also the team here. The seniors had a goal as a group to have that be how we end the year here. It wouldn’t have been fair to sophomore Caroline if I left here without doing something to give us a chance to have that banner.”
Leave a Reply