Lincoln-Way West sophomore Colin Baikie hangs out with a tough crowd.

After moving from the back row to outside hitter Wednesday night, Baikie was a difference-maker. But on the stat sheet of coach Jodi Frigo, the word “donuts” was written below Baikie’s name.

Was he going to receive treats for a job well done? Not quite.

“He missed a game-point serve,” Frigo said of Baikie. “We don’t miss game-point serves or you owe donuts the next practice.”

Yep, tough crowd.

That was one of the few things Baikie did wrong, though. He tallied seven kills, three aces and a block assist for the Warriors in a 25-18, 25-19 nonconference win over Providence in New Lenox.

Colin Dargan added four kills for Lincoln-Way West (7-2), while Ryne Ferree had nine assists and Andrew Flores recorded 11 digs. Jackson Fowler led host Providence (3-7) with four kills.

Frigo, meanwhile, had to shuffle her lineup due to an injury to sophomore middle hitter David Neylon. Hunter Vedder moved from outside to middle, with Baikie taking over on the outside.

Baikie, who had just eight kills for the varsity as a freshman, looked right at home in the front row. He pounded down five kills in the first game alone.

“It was fun,” he said. “I’m usually a back-row guy, and it was a good opportunity for me to hit and get some reps.”

That said, Baikie is familiar with the front row from playing with Ultimate 16 Gold.

“I play outside in club, so I’ve been working hard at it,” Baikie said. “I’m surprised I did this well, but I’m happy.”

He also didn’t find the move to be too much of an adjustment.

“Usually, my mindset is to just get the ball up,” Baikie said. “But when I’m in the front row, I’m hitting down. It’s a different game in the front row.”

Flores, a senior libero, is impressed that his back-row teammate was able to break through.

“I would say he did a pretty good job,” Flores said of Baikie. “I know he doesn’t get many opportunities, and he capitalized on his opportunity. He might get another chance.”

For now, if Neylon returns soon, the 6-foot-2 Baikie will likely head back to the back row.

“He’s great,” Frigo said of Baikie. “As a freshman, he just played a lot of back row. Obviously, he’s nice and tall and he can swing, too, which is great.

“We’ve just been giving the juniors and seniors opportunities because we’re heavy in hitting, but he’s definitely going to contribute for us this year, too.”

Last season, the Warriors made it to the state quarterfinals. They returned six starters, even though their top hitter, Connor Jaral, graduated and is now playing at Loras.

Flores has high hopes for the Warriors this spring because this is going to be the end of his competitive volleyball career.

Despite getting interest from UCLA, Ohio State, George Mason and Loyola, Flores decided over the summer to not play at the next level.

“I just said that I didn’t want to continue this for the next four years in college,” he said. “I wanted to devote myself to college and focus on academics.”

At the same time, Baikie also has his focus trained on getting the Warriors back to state.

He got his start in volleyball because his parents, Jonathan and Mandy, both played at Oak Lawn. They were also in the 1995 homecoming court at the school.

Jonathan coached boys and girls volleyball at Bremen. Mandy played at Eureka and is in the college’s hall of fame. Colin’s sister, Payton, also played volleyball for Lincoln-Way West and is the boys team’s manager.

They all helped grow Colin’s appreciation of the sport.

“I’ve been in it a long time and always loved it,” he said. “I really look up to my dad. As a coach, he taught me a lot.”

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.