By Rob Tate
SportCast Media
Gaby Santiago was just out there serving away to start the third set against Caney Creek Tuesday night.
On the fourth serve, Caney Creek received it well and sent it back to the War Eagles back row where Santiago, a junior and three-year varsity starter, made a textbook dig. After another point landed on the Panthers’ side, Oak Ridge head coach Tommie Lynne Sledge called a quick timeout.
It’s possible there was some confusion there. Why call a timeout up 4-0 in a match the War Eagles were cruising to victory in?
For good reason.
The dig just so happened to be Santiago’s 1,200th in her varsity career. And if that wasn’t impressive enough, she surpassed 1,000 career kills earlier in the season.
Over in the corner bleachers near where Santiago had been serving from, the junior varsity and underclassmen members of the Oak Ridge volleyball program popped confetti and unveiled a banner congratulating Santiago for the milestone accomplishments.
“It was really surprising,” Santiago said afterwards. “I was just really happy for me, but also my team. They’re always there for me and I just appreciate them.”
Santiago, a steady and fierce competitor on the court, was worthy of the moment.
“She deserves a little pop,” Sledge said. “That’s why we called that timeout to really give the celebration I felt like that was much deserved.”
Sledge was hoping for it to be a big surprise gesture.
“I hope so,” she said. “I wanted it to be a surprise. I didn’t even tell our JV or underclassmen until this afternoon. That’s how much of a surprise it was.”
Interestingly enough, Santiago is a dynamic server too. She put over eight good serves consecutively to begin that third set and leads the team in that department this season with 74.
“What people don’t recognize the most is how steady she is,” Sledge said. “She doesn’t waver. She doesn’t go up and down and is not emotionally driven. She just plays and she’s been like that since her freshman year.”
She has stood out on varsity since day one.
As a freshman, Santiago led the War Eagles with 366 kills and followed that up with a team-leading 405. She came into Tuesday’s match with 282 on the year.
“I have been on varsity for a long time,” Santiago said. “So it just kind of hit me. I wasn’t really expecting it at all.”
Santiago has played a big role on defense, too, with 366 digs as a freshman and 596 as a sophomore. Both times she was second on the team in that category.
This year, Santiago led the team with 358 digs (entering Tuesday’s match).
What Santiago provides on the floor is one thing. What she contributes as a teammate is another.
“I think what I’m most proud of this year is that she’s gotten out of her comfort zone like with communication,” Sledge said. “She’s just a team player and always has been.”
Santiago and the War Eagles have their sights set on the big picture this season.
A second consecutive trip to the playoffs is on the line with nine district matches remaining.
So far, the War Eagles have done a good job separating themselves from the bottom of the pack while taking their shot at the teams above them in the standings.
“It’s going pretty good,” Santiago said. “We’re doing really good in district right now and I’m excited for the playoffs.”
