The nickname sounds silly now seeing how Oak Park and River Forest High School senior Symone Speech has become one of the most feared middle blockers in the state.
But it was just two years ago that Speech’s club coach at First Alliance, Beth Keck, dubbed her with a Disney moniker that would make current opponents scoff.
“She called me ‘Bambi’ because I was graceful on the court but was too nice and didn’t hit very hard,” Speech said. “She changed that. She really drilled me to develop my arm swing and get me coordinated.”
The Bambi nickname has been discarded. An Action Comics superhero tag would be more appropriate for the 6-3 Speech, who will take her talents to Georgetown next year.
“I think ‘special player’ is a great way to describe Symone,” OPRF coach Don August said. “I’ve been at OPRF for 10 or 11 years but I was around the program before that. She could be one of the best players OPRF has ever had.”
Speech is definitely the most well-rounded player. She began her career as a right side hitter, moved into the middle at Keck’s urging and spent the first half of this season at outside hitter.
The switch to outside hitter was necessitated because OPRF needed a big hitter on the left until Andrea Garcia, a transfer from Puerto Rico, became eligible. It was an eye-opener for Speech and a demonstration of her versatility and team-first attitude.
“[Playing left side] requires more skills,” August said. “They have to pass and play defense. She was a little inexperienced at first but she got better and held her own.”
Speech was relieved when Garcia began playing and was happy to move back into the middle.
“Outside hitter is a completely different perspective,” Speech said. “I don’t think anyone will understand how difficult it was until they’re in the same position I was in.
“It’s very difficult. It’s a totally different view of the court. The angles are different and my serve-receive was something I had to pick up.
“When Andrea became eligible I was like, ‘yes, you can have your position back.'”
Despite the position changes, Speech maintained her dominating play.
She has spiked 261 kills and has a .347 hitting percentage (anything over .300 is considered good), leads the team with 60 blocks and has served 131 points, including 33 aces. More impressively for someone so tall, Speech is fourth on the team in digs with 94.
“She’s bringing a high level of play and that raises everyone else’s game,” August said. “Serving, blocking and hitting are the three things we ask her to do and she’s much more consistent at all three.
“Just her knowledge of the game and her skills is impressive. Things happen in slow motion for her. As the speed of the game picks up, it’s not too fast for her.”
Part of that comes from Speech’s natural athleticism. Her mother, April, played high school basketball, as did several uncles and her older brother, De’Angelo, who starred at OPRF and played for Central Connecticut State. Speech’s cousin, Samantha Thrower, played volleyball at Indiana.
But Speech is relatively new to the sport. She dabbled in ice skating, soccer and swimming but didn’t try volleyball until eighth grade at the behest of August.
“My first season of volleyball was eighth grade,” Speech said. “[My OPRF career] has meant a lot, especially having someone like Coach August. He was my gym teacher and he pushed me to try out. It is really cool to [be coached by] someone who’s been with me my whole career.”
Speech’s prep career has had its ups and downs. The Huskies won their first sectional title since 1987 last year, but this season struggled to stay around .500.
Speech, though, wouldn’t let OPRF down. She had seven kills, four digs and three blocks on Thursday as the Huskies (20-17) avenged two earlier defeats by beating Trinity 25-16, 25-19 in the Class 4A Proviso East Regional title game.
“Our season has been rough, especially going into the last couple weeks,” Speech said. “As a senior, I want us to go as far as we can. We have come together as a team these last few games. We realize that we can’t let one player fall apart and have it take the whole team down. We have to play as a team and not six individuals.”
But if there is one individual who epitomizes what a leader means to a team, it is Speech.
“Her prime asset is her work ethic,” August said. “She never misses a rep in practice and just works very hard. That rubs off on the other kids.”
The end of Speech’s high school career is near. The fifth-seeded Huskies will be decided underdogs Tuesday when the take on top-seeded De La Salle (32-3) in the semifinals of the De La Salle Sectional.
But Speech’s playing days are far from over.
“She’s going to be a great Division I player,” August said. “I would be surprised if she didn’t start her first year. I’ve talked with the Georgetown coach and he’s just really high on her.”
As high as Speech soars on the volleyball court, she is equally impressive in the classroom, where she takes all honors and AP classes. She has yet to decide on what to pursue in college but says she is best in math and science and is good at memorizing. She analyzed her college choices based on the long-term return on investment.
“It was hard last year going on the recruiting trips,” Speech said. “I had all my Big Ten and ACC offers but I asked myself, ‘what am I going to do after college?’
“Yes, I can go overseas and play professionally, but Georgetown had the combination of D1 volleyball and good academics. Whenever I’m done playing, I know I’ll have that Georgetown degree behind me.”
Â