Student Athlete Spotlight: Kattie Lee

EAST PEORIA — Competitive is the word that Coach Sue Sinclair used in describing freshman volleyball player Kattie Lee, even if it means in a game of tiddlywinks.

“I don’t even know what tiddlywinks is, but in my family we are always competing against one another even if it is in just cards,” said Lee about being very competitive. “I hate losing. There is always that one time I am going to lose though.”

Lee comes from a graduating class of 63 in Brookston, Indiana. There she was a four-year three-sports star.

“Everyone knew everyone,” said Lee. “It was a great opportunity to keep me busy and keep my grades up.”

Her parents are Gretta and Sean Long. She also has two brothers, Deven Lee and Cole Long.

“My mom is a big role model and my best friend,” Lee said. “[I] wouldn’t know what to do without her. She pushed me to come and do this.”

Lee played volleyball, softball and basketball all four years in high school. She played basketball with Haley Grimes, who is also a freshman here at Illinois Central College and on the basketball team.

“Basketball really wasn’t my sport, but I played it all four years,” said Lee.

Lee said it is a tie between softball and volleyball for her two favorite sports. She had originally decided to go to school to continue playing softball.

Lee credits her high school head coach, Rod Nies, for making her a better volleyball player.

“He taught me everything I knew about volleyball,” Lee said. “He said that the sky was the limit and all I needed to do was push myself.”

Former Cougars player Sarah Laurent played a big role in getting Lee to ICC. She was Lee’s junior high coach and she contacted Sinclair about Lee coming to ICC to play volleyball here. Sailors played at ICC from 91-92.

“She always talked about ‘it was all about nationals’,” Lee said. “I wanted to go somewhere they were good not average. When I got here I learned a lot more about the game than I did in high school.”

Lee, as of Sept. 23, has 45 aces and Sinclair believes that she could break the school record in aces by the time her career is over.

“She plays hard every time,” said Sinclair about Lee. “She is very aggressive on offense and defense.”

The transition for Lee from high school to college was made easier by the classes that were offered at her schools in Indiana.

“They really prepared us for college, the transition hasn’t been that bad,” said Lee. “When you get to college you have to have responsibilities and be an adult and grow up.”

Lee is currently studying to be a Surgical Technician. When asked about whether she would look to move on to another school to continue playing after her time at ICC was up she had a definite answer.

“My friend and teammate Reilly Dunne have become close friends and have decided that we are going to a four year college and play together,” said Lee.

In her free time Lee likes to be outside fishing and hanging out with friends. She doesn’t like being inside.

Lee will get a chance in a couple weeks to go close to home and play in a tournament at Vincennes University in Vincennes, Indiana, on Oct. 4 and 5.