Reavis senior Evelyn Blacha has something pretty special in common with her coach, Stephanie Korbakes.

As a junior, Blacha was conference player of the year in the South Suburban Red. In 2011, Korbakes, then a junior at Shepard, was player of the year in the South Suburban Red.

Surprise.

“Really? She never told me that,” a wide-eyed Korbakes said after Thursday’s match. “Oh, wow. That is pretty cool.”

A 6-foot outside hitter, Blacha looked in repeat form for the Rams during a 25-21, 26-24 victory over host Richards in Oak Lawn.

Blacha totaled 16 kills and 20 digs for Reavis (6-3, 1-1). Paulina Potok added six kills and 10 digs, while Yuvia Velasquez had 15 digs and Natalia Jarzabek tallied 24 assists.

Peyton Craan paced Richards (3-6, 1-1) with 13 kills and six digs. Kailey Moore made 16 digs and Hailey Pitt had 12 assists.

When it mattered the most at the end of the second game, Jarzabek and Blacha were a constant connection.

“She’s my outside — she’s Evelyn,” Jarzabek said. “We’ve been playing together since seventh grade. She’s one of the best outside hitters I can set. Her mentality is always positive, never negative.”

The last nine kills for the Rams were by Blacha. The final two were smartly landed tips.

“I just focused on what I do personally well,” Blacha said. “We all had a really good connection. And we’re all best friends. That really helped, too.”

Blacha is in her fourth season on the varsity. She has always been a happy camper at Reavis, but this is the first time she’s starting a season in a true comfort zone.

Korbakes has really moved her around.

“We knew her freshman year that for sure she was going to be a go-to player,” Korbakes said. “She started out as a middle for us and then she went to the right side her sophomore year.

“She knew her sophomore year that she would be moving to the outside as a junior. She really stepped up into that leadership role and took control.”

Blacha has flourished as an outside hitter. During her junior season, she put down 233 kills, developing into a hitter who is just as dangerous in the back row as she is in the front.

Late in the second game against Richards, she twice earned side-outs for the Rams by going long distance.

“I have worked very, very, very hard on my back row,” Blacha said. “Earlier in middle school, I was not good at back row whatsoever. My sophomore year, I really worked through it, and it’s a matter of connecting well with the setter.

“When it comes to the passing, I just trust my body. Wherever it tells me to go, I just trust my instincts.”

Daily Southtown

Twice-weekly

News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday

Last season, Blacha led the Rams to the conference title. When Korbakes then attended the all-conference meeting, she held the ace card.

She also held the news for just a bit after Blacha was the coaches’ choice.

“I told her at the next practice,” Korbakes said, laughing. “I held it overnight. I like doing it in person. I know in this social media day and age, it’s like, “OK, let’s do it.’

“But I like to be more personal with the kids. I think it was a nice surprise.”

It was, indeed.

“I had no idea, literally no clue,” Blacha said. “After we won conference, I had a feeling it could be someone on this team, but I didn’t think it was going to be me.

“I was so grateful it happened. Hopefully, there can be a repeat this season or it can be someone else on our team. I feel like every single one of these girls deserve it as much as I would.”