Two much to handle
Edgar Melik-Stepanyan
Behind the 544 kills was an awesome two-sport athlete who refined her
game.
Behind the 208 digs and 83 blocks was a junior who single-handedly
took her team to new heights.
And behind the Flintridge Prep girls’ volleyball team’s run to the
CIF Southern Section Division IVA quarterfinals was a revered player
whose mere presence struck fear into opponents.
Lindsay Fletcher was an electrifying player to watch. Not only
because of her phenomenal physical abilities, but because of how she
took her game to another level by adding more variety to her shot
selection to her repertoire.
In a span of three seasons, Fletcher went from being a raw
freshman to an imposing sophomore to the Burbank Leader All-Area
Player of the Year, as voted upon by the writers and editors of the
News-Press and Leader.
“She was incredible,” Flintridge Prep Coach Sean Beattie said.
Incredible, as in her desire and will to win. Remarkable, as in
how she became a leader to teammates who looked up to her. And
astonishing, as in how she turned all the potential she possessed
into one of the finest seasons in area history.
“I just took the physical abilities I had and improved on my
game,” said the soft-spoken Fletcher, making her record-breaking
performances -- which included eclipsing former Village Christian
standout Errin Benesh’s single-season area record of 485 kills in
1998 -- sound all too easy.
“I am definitely blessed.”
*
Fletcher -- the two-time Prep League track champion in the 100-
and 200-meter races -- is blessed with great physical abilities and
she played off those skills in her first two years on the varsity
stage.
Fletcher -- an outside hitter with 1,026 kills and 266 blocks in
her career -- isn’t satisfied with her game just yet, though.
“I want to be able to do that on command,” she said. “I want to
work on my game. [I don’t want it] to be just power, power, power.”
That’s the type of attitude that molded Fletcher -- an All-CIF
second-team selection, the first Rebel to earn such an honor since
Flora Pappas was voted the Division V first team in 1997 -- into an
admired teammate.
Behind the shy personality was a fierce competitor who didn’t let
mononucleosis or a hurt ankle slow her down.
Fletcher was expected to miss at least the first two weeks of the
season with mono, but she convinced Beattie she was well enough to
play, playing in the Rebels’ first match of the year -- a 25-15,
19-25, 25-18, 25-20 win against North Hills L.A. Baptist in which she
tallied 19 kills, four aces and three blocks.
“[Her playing] gave us a lot of confidence,” said Rebel senior
Kristen Zeigler, an all-league second-team selection who finished the
season with a team-high 252 digs. “If someone can play with that much
pain, it makes you want to play better for her.”