Libertyville junior right-side hitter Elle Knight’s fast rise in volleyball still amazes her.

Knight’s 4-inch growth spurt after she started playing the sport in seventh grade may have opened coaches’ eyes but didn’t make her a better player overnight.

“Once coaches see a big kid walk into a gym, it’s a good thing,” she said. “I had height coming into high school, so it showed my potential.

“But it took me some time adjusting to my height, and jumping was harder for me. Through time, it got better, and everything clicked. I felt my game improve, and I was getting more opportunities in the gym and on the court.”

Meanwhile, Knight was experiencing difficulty reading and writing. She was diagnosed with dyslexia and dysgraphia last year.

“Reading was challenging, but I learned a lot of ways to help understand what I read and wrote over the years,” she said. “My parents always thought there was an issue, but when the doctor confirmed it, it gave me understanding of what was happening.

“It hasn’t been an issue for me in sports. I’m good at taking feedback from coaches and putting it into action. Sports has been the one place that dyslexia hasn’t held me back.”

The 6-foot Knight has become one of the focal points for North Suburban Conference leader Libertyville (17-6, 3-0), which has three losses against out-of-state teams. In her second season as a varsity starter, she has 132 kills, 33 blocks and 44 digs.

Knight, who also plays varsity basketball, had eight kills and five blocks in a win against Glenbrook North on Sept. 6 and had 10 kills and two blocks in a conference win against Mundelein on Wednesday.

Libertyville coach Greg Loika, who has watched a long line of players go to Division I teams during his successful tenure, expects Knight to join them.

“Elle has tons of energy and is a dynamo on the court,” Loika said. “She’s a super competitor and a great complement to the offensive stuff we’re doing.

“We like to move the ball around to different areas of the court to get points, and she’s a strong and smart hitter and brings an X factor the team needs with her energy. She finds the seams with her power and puts pressure on the other team’s defense and just exudes confidence. She’s a competitor.”

Knight, whose mother played volleyball in high school and college, made an impact last season too. She had 188 kills as the Wildcats reached a Class 4A sectional championship match.

“I saw her true potential last year,” Libertyville senior middle hitter Avery Maddux. “She stepped up as a sophomore on varsity and had a great season. She brought energy, momentum and smiles — everything good in a volleyball player.”

Libertyville’s Elle Knight (11) and Avery Maddux (12) go up to block during a North Suburban Conference match against Mundelein in Libertyville on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025. (Talia Sprague / News-Sun)

Libertyville junior libero Charlie Fleegle, whose experience with Knight goes back further, recalls her first impression.

“When I first played with Elle in middle school, I knew she was special,” Fleegle said. “Her work ethic is like no other, and she is a natural athlete.”

Fleegle, an Illinois State commit, emphasized that talent is only part of the equation for Knight.

“Elle’s hard work and competitive spirit make her stand out from a lot of players,” Fleegle said. “She has high volleyball IQ and knows exactly how to step up in clutch moments.”

Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/26/volleyball-libertyville-elle-knight/