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.”