Lisa McBrideVolleyball

Lakenheath

Last week: McBride, a sophomore setter, was credited with 88 assists and 10 aces in seven games Saturday at Wiesbaden as the Lancers collected Division I victories over Wiesbaden (25-21, 26-24, 19-25, 25-23) and Patch (25-13, 25-22, 25-22).

“Her serving is extra tough, and her setting is extremely good, especially considering that she’s just a sophomore,” Lakenheath’s volunteer coach, Kathy Schick, said Tuesday by telephone. “She’s a natural.”

Despite her youth, McBride performs like an upperclassman on the floor, Schick said. “She really keeps the girls calm on the court,” Schick said. “She’s always pushing the girls.”

The coach, who’s in her first year at the helm at Lakenheath, added that McBride’s steadiness has moved the entire team to depend on her.

“She’s confident, but not cocky,” Schick said. “Her teammates have confidence in her and I have confidence in her, too.”

Greg BillingtonCross country

Lakenheath

Last week: Billington, a senior and the defending European cross country champion, ran a course-record 16 minutes, 18 seconds Saturday on Menwith Hill’s 5,000-meter layout. He finished more than 2 minutes ahead of the runner-up despite not being in top form, Lakenheath coach John Gilmore said.

“Greg hasn’t been feeling well the past two weeks,” Gilmore said. “He ran the first week with a 102 (degree) temperature.”

Gilmore said Billington, 18 and a member of the U.S. Junior National triathlon team, has work habits that motivate his teammates.

“Greg does a great job leading by example,” Gilmore said. “He trains on his own all year with self-discipline and the competitive will to be the best at what he does.”

Gilmore expects Saturday’s race to be just the beginning.

“I think he will probably break every course record he runs this year,” Gilmore said, “and hopefully at Europeans as well.”

— Selected by Stars and Stripes staff

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