CHESTERTON | When Claire Holba finished up her junior year at Chesterton, the two-sport star knew she had a few decisions to make.
Holba is a standout in basketball, having been named to the Indiana Junior All-Stars. The senior also earned second team all-area honors in volleyball last season and has a true love for the game.
With collegiate talent in both sports, Holba also strives for excellence in the classroom and has spent much of the summer trying to decide not only what sport she'll play in college, but if she'll play a sport at all.
"I've made up my mind recently that I definitely want to play something in college," Holba said. "I'm all over the place as to which sport. People have asked me and I could play either one."
Holba got a taste of what collegiate volleyball would be like this summer when she played with the Indiana Dunes club team. It was her first year of club volleyball, but Holba was named to 18 Black, the top team in the program.
"Playing with the Dunes awakened me to what level I need to be at," Holba said.
Holba, who coach TR Harlan describes as "200 percent better" this season, doesn't want her college decision to become a distraction to either volleyball or basketball.
"I just want to do really well with both sports," Holba said. "I want to work to win sectionals and the DAC."
Holba developed last season in the shadows of first team all-area Michelle Fekete. Holba had 219 kills and 43 aces to go along with 90 block kills on a team that came within a game of an upset sectional championship title against LaPorte.
Fekete will take her talents to Indianapolis this fall where she is walking on at IUPUI. While Holba hasn't made a decision as to what sport she will play, she does know what level she wants to be at.
"I haven't really talked to a lot of schools yet," Holba said. "I do want to shoot for Division I, but it's also really important that the situation is good for my family."
With the Trojans starting their season this week, Holba is going to put her decision on hold and just concentrate on being a good teammate and senior leader to her younger teammates.
"I'm definitely excited for the season," Holba said. "There is an expectation to step up and be a leader as a senior. I'm excited to have all the new girls come up that we have."
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