Libertyville senior outside hitter Claire Evans isn’t afraid of the big stage or the bright lights.
When she was younger, Evans performed in “The Nutcracker” for three years.
“Playing on the championship court on an elite team last club season, where we came in first place in our division at nationals, gave me the same feeling that I had when dancing on stage during ‘The Nutcracker,’” she said.
Evans trained in ballet for 10 years but quit in eighth grade to focus on volleyball.
“Ballet gave me a great foundation for balance and strength and movement, and that carried over to volleyball,” she said. “I think it helped a ton with coordination, especially in the back row, where I move around with my feet and try to stay quick.
“Volleyball is a game of mistakes, so it’s different that way. With both, you really have to be calm and perform at a high level.”
Libertyville’s Claire Evans digs the ball during a Class 4A Hampshire Sectional semifinal against Huntley on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. (H. Rick Bamman / News-Sun)
The 6-foot-1 Evans, the 2025 News-Sun Girls Volleyball Player of the Year, definitely performed at a high level during her senior season. She compiled 273 kills, 129 digs and 48 aces to lead the Wildcats (32-8) to the North Suburban Conference title and a Class 4A sectional championship.
“Claire plays with a really quiet and humble approach,” Libertyville coach Greg Loika said. “She’s not super flashy. Her attacking efficiency went up, and she cut down on errors and increased her number of swings.
“No doubt, she was our go-to player all year. She opened things up for us, passed great and was steady all year.”
Libertyville senior right-side hitter Sydney Meyer said Evans also was the ideal leader for a team with several underclassmen.
“The way she carried herself said everything,” Meyer said. “Claire made smart plays, lifted everyone around her and kept us believing in ourselves even on tough days.
“She was a huge part of our offense and defense. But more than that, she brought this energy that everyone fed off.”
Evans, who is the conference co-player of the year, built a reputation as someone who rises to the occasion during her two varsity seasons. She racked up a career-high 12 kills along with seven aces, four digs and two blocks in the Wildcats’ win over Hampshire in the sectional semifinals last year.
“Claire made a huge jump from the conclusion of her sophomore year to the start of her junior season,” Loika said. “She grew a couple of inches and gained a few inches on her vertical and turned into a real powerhouse.
“She had clearly catapulted herself from off the radar to the best hitter in the program, which was amazing and very needed for us.”
Libertyville’s Claire Evans serves during a North Suburban Conference match against Mundelein in Libertyville on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025. (Talia Sprague / News-Sun)
Evans said her growth spurt before her junior season gave her more confidence.
“I felt like a different player on the court,” she said. “I felt I was able to hit better shots and reach over the blocks.”
Evans credits her older sister Lily, a 2024 Libertyville graduate who played middle hitter, for sparking her interest in volleyball.
“What really inspired me to play volleyball was my sister Lily,” Evans said. “I wanted to play volleyball to follow in her footsteps.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.
