WHITING | In early July, the life of Calumet College of St. Joseph's newest outside hitter, Kelsey McFarlane, was about to change drastically.

That was when she, and fellow freshman volleyball players Maria Frebis and Abby Hunsucker moved into their new apartment in Whiting.

McFarlane is originally from Johnsburg, Ill., which is two hours northwest of Whiting, near Crystal Lake.

Her life changed because she just graduated from high school a month earlier and moved into a town with which she wasn't familiar, with two new people she barely knew.

But, for McFarlane, it's been a surprisingly easy transition.

"Johnsburg and Whiting are about the same size," McFarlane said. "The college is about the same size as my high school, so it's been easy to adjust because everyone has been so welcoming."

The three new freshmen have gotten to know each other by going to Whihala Beach almost every day and going to Cool Creations to eat ice cream.

And on the court, it's the same story because teammates have showed her and her roommates around Whiting.

"They have introduced us to all kinds of different people," McFarlane said. "Maria, Abby and myself met the team right away, and we all just bonded really quickly."

Fifth-year Cal College coach Andy Marks thinks the three players will contribute right away.

"They are a different group of personalities, but they will bring in an offense we haven't seen before," he said.

McFarlane hopes she and her two roommates can bring some life to a program that unfortunately won only one match last fall.

"We just want to bring in some positive energy," McFarlane said. "Since we have bonded so much off the court already, we just want to mold together and win some games."

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