Loyola’s Mohn makes volleyball believer out of mom

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10/28/10 Thursday Loyola Loyola's Kaitlin Mohr (5) spikes the ball against Leyden during thier volleyball match on Thursday, Oct. 28th. | Dan Luedert~Sun-Times Media

Updated: November 2, 2011 4:23PM

Much to her mother’s initial disappointment, Kaitlin Mohr gave up basketball for volleyball by the time she arrived at Loyola.

Mohr’s mother, Patty Mulvihill, was a captain for Regina Dominican’s basketball team in high school, and had hoped her daughter would follow her path with the Ramblers.

But the younger Mohr doesn’t regret her resistance. With her full attention focused on volleyball, she enters her senior season as one of the top hitters in the area.

“My mom wanted me to be a three-sport athlete and especially play basketball,” Mohr said. “But now that it’s going well for me, I know she’s happy I chose volleyball.”

As a junior, Mohr was a monster in the middle. She finished with 170 kills and 95 total blocks. The all-GCAC selection also had 100 digs and 30 aces.

The 5-foot-11 Mohr is looking for more big things in her final season while impressing college coaches in the process. The uncommitted Mohr will visit Loyola of New Orleans this fall.

Mohr is coming off a solid summer with Des Plaines-based The Edge club. Her 18-Black team finished 12th at the national tournament in Florida in June. Loyola setter Esme Condon plays for the same club.

“It was great to have her there,” said Mohr, who’s played with Condon since both were sophomores. “It was awesome to focus on everything together.

“Esme and I are perfect for one another. I rarely have to change a set of hers.”

While the Ramblers struggled some last season, Mohr likes what she saw from the team at July’s three-week camp.

“I actually think we will be very good,” said Mohr, who won a regional championship with Loyola as a sophomore. The Ramblers went 10-25 last year. “The big thing for us is we have a lot of defensive specialists coming in, and they have a lot of skill. One of our issues last year was that we had trouble running anything. We had good hitters, but we couldn’t get the ball to them.

“This year we are set up for a good season. We have great hitters, and Esme is a great setter.”