Over the past three seasons, senior outside hitter Camille Morrison has climbed the ladder for Metea Valley, becoming that assertive star the Mustangs needed in big matches.

According to coach Dave Macdonald, the progression has been a sight to see.

“She’s been our rock all season,” Macdonald said of the 6-foot Morrison. “She’s constantly gotten better and better as the years have gone on. She kept growing and growing.

“I can’t talk enough about how awesome she is on the court, off the court.”

On the court Monday night, Morrison was big for Metea with 12 kills and two aces in a 22-25, 25-18, 25-21 loss to Glenbard West in a Class 4A St. Charles North Sectional semifinal.

Maddie Hopkins complemented Morrison with 14 kills for the Mustangs (28-9). Anna Murphy added seven kills, while Olivia Stewart contributed five kills and two blocks.

While Morrison plans to play in college, she remains uncommitted. Macdonald feels she’s just scratching the surface of the potential she will show when she gets to the next level.

“I’m excited to see what she does, wherever she decides to go,” he said. “She’s going to be a good one.”

Monday’s match was a good one, with Metea jumping out to a 13-7 lead in the first game. Glenbard West (35-3) eventually forced a 22-22 tie, but Morrison’s kill forced a side out, Hopkins followed with a kill and Morrison served an ace to end the game.

“The season was on the line — I wanted the ball,” Morrison said. “We just wanted to come out as hard as we can and get that first one.”

There were times during the match that Morrison was clapping and asking for the ball, even in the back row, which is what Macdonald has come to expect this season.

“For her, it’s been special,” Macdonald said. “She’s become that dominant person who knows she’s getting the ball, wants the ball, wants to do whatever she can to help the team.”

Glenbard West jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the second game. Metea battled to a 13-13 tie, but that was as close as the Mustangs could get.

Metea then managed an 18-18 tie in the finale, but the Mustangs only had one kill from Morrison in the third game and the Hilltoppers pulled away at the end to set up a fourth match this season with Benet.

“It took us a while to settle in and block them and get the timing on that,” Glenbard West coach Dan Scott said. “They run a very fast tempo. (Morrison) is very tall and long. That makes the timing very difficult.

“Even when they set her from all the way across the court, you still have to time that out. If we jumped too early, she had shots after it. If we jumped too late, all of a sudden, she’s hitting it down the line.”

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The Mustangs say goodbye to six seniors, including Morrison and Murphy. That group won three straight regional and two conference titles in addition to the state championship as sophomores.

“They’re a great group of leaders,” Macdonald said. “That sets the tone for the program. When I took over 10 years ago, that’s what we wanted.

“We expect to be in this situation, fighting for state every single year.”

Morrison also looked back at how far she’s come since arriving at Metea, both for herself and her team.

“It’s been kind of a gradual progression,” Morrison said. “It’s all about growth. I wasn’t really sure how it was going to go, but we stayed together.

“We made each other better this season.”

Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.