As a middle-schooler,Krissy OMalley would attendevery Flint Hill volleyballmatch she could, watching Ally Fellows set up the Huskies hittersona team that went undefeated and finished atop The Washington Posts rankings in 2014.

Id just hope one day Id be on that team. I remember looking at them and thinking, How could anyone be that good?' OMalley said. When youre little, you look up to someone whos doing everything right and youre like, Oh my gosh.

Now a sophomore and Liberty recruit, OMalleyhasgrown into the type of player she once admired. The 5-foot-9 setter worked on her gameobsessively over the last few years, recording 940 assists in the fall and and earning recognition as an All-Met honorable mention for one of the D.C. areas top teams.

OMalleys competitive drive helps set her apart from other talented players.One of her best performances came againstHoly Cross in the Metro City final. Flint Hill arrived about an hour early, and while the other playersused the extra time to dotheir homework, OMalleyand freshman Sydney Reedwere too excited to focus on anything besides the match.

We were just talking about the game coming up and we were just so in the zone, and I couldnt take my mind or my eyes off the prize, said OMalley, who delivered 29 assists in the three-set victory.

OMalley wanted to be a swimmer when she was younger after watching her oldest sisters meets, but discovered a passion for volleyball in fourth grade, she said. She gravitated toward the setter position, usingher soft touch and court awareness to excel in that role. OMalley sees herself as a quarterback, always thinking about how to put her teammates in position to succeed.

I love running the show. I love calling the plays and knowing who to set at what times. I think thats a really fun part of setting, OMalley said.

Flint Hill Coach Carrol DeNure said that it is this ability that sets OMalley apart.

We take that for granted with her, because she just has a good feel for the game and her teammates, DeNure said.

OMalley verbally committedto Libertylast Thursday.Though college istwo years away, she has beengetting a head start by watching theteam in action keeping a close eye on junior setter Anna Willey as she prepares to play at the next level.

I really want to get fundamentally better. I want to get everything crisper with my setting, OMalley said. Im just pushing to get stronger so when I get to Liberty, Im ready. I not only want to go to Liberty, but I want to succeed.

NUMBER CRUNCH:29

Wins in the past 30 games for Wilsons boys basketball team. The No. 7 Tigers (29-3) defeatedFriendship Tech, 59-56, in overtime last night to advance to Fridays DCSAA semifinal against No. 2 Gonzaga.

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Flint Hill's Krissy O'Malley sets up volleyball future, commits to Liberty - Washington Post