DAILY PILOT HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK:

When Roberta Amble talks about Lindsey Kish it’s easy for her to describe the volleyball player from Sage Hill School because she’s known her for the past 14 years.

But, Amble’s description has nothing do with a bump, set or spike.

“She’s a remarkable young woman,” said Amble, better known as Bird. “I can’t imagine growing up without a mom.”

Kish doesn’t need to imagine. When she was 2, her mother, Donna, died of cancer. Kish speaks about it now freely, not so much for the sake of inspiring others, but because it’s part of what made her who she is.

Who is she? Ask Bird.

“She’s a real special girl,” Bird said of Kish, a Sage Hill junior.

Growing up in Costa Mesa, Kish has come to know Bird and her husband, Buzz, as more than just neighbors. The Ambles live two doors down from Kish, whose father, Art, is an airline pilot.

When Art is traveling and away from home, Kish will sleep over her favorite neighbors’ house. Sometimes, during the week, she’ll go over there just to hang out, watch movies with them or have Bird cook for her.

“We are really close,” Bird said. “We are a family.”

Bird, 60, is a kindergarten teacher at Whittier Elementary and has been teaching for the past 35 years. Buzz, 64, taught in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District for 34 years. Yet, it’s the 16-year-old girl who has been providing lessons for the couple.

“She teaches me something every day,” Bird said. “She’s been a huge part of our lives. I’ve been blessed to have her in my life.”

Art also feels fortunate to have the Ambles in the neighborhood.

“Those people can never be overstated how great they are,” Art said of the Ambles. “Bird has been every bit of a mother to Lindsey. And, Buzz has been a spare dad, uncle, grandfather all rolled into one because I’ve been gone a lot.”

Bird knew Kish’s mother well. When the Kish family moved into the Costa Mesa neighborhood 14 years ago, Bird became Donna’s friend. They had something in common. Both had cancer and they dealt with chemotherapy at the same time.

Lindsey has heard the stories about her mom from the Ambles. She’s also heard what Donna was like.

“Bird and Buzz love to talk about her,” Lindsey said. “She was a really nice person and she cared about others before herself.”

Art never remarried after Donna passed away. It’s been just Lindsey and Art. Love is present in their home, but they’ve also had their rough patches, Lindsey said.

Volleyball helped during some of those combative moments. Art has always enjoyed playing on the beach. He introduced his daughter to the game there, on the sand.

Now, she prefers playing indoors. This season, with the Lightning, it shows. As a team captain, she has been leading Sage Hill to an undefeated season in the Academy League. Last week, the Lightning (14-10, 8-0 in league) scored a huge five-game win against rival St. Margaret’s. It was the first time they’ve beaten the Tartans at Sage Hill.

Lindsey recorded 13 kills and 15 digs.

On the court, Lindsey brings energy to her team and has a great ability to keep rallies alive with her hustle that produces digs, Sage Coach Dan Thomassen said.

At 5-foot-7, 120 pounds she is not necessarily overpowering as an outside hitter, Thomassen said, but she is a smart volleyball player.

“I really think her best position might be as a libero,” said Thomassen, whose team is ranked No. 5 in CIF Southern Section Division IV-AA. “She’s a really good passer. The rest of the girls on the team have followed her lead because she is so good at controlling the ball. She sets the standard there. It was a weakness for us, but it has gotten better. The team has gotten better by following her lead.”

While that’s been happening, Bird has been there to watch.

“I go to every match,” she said.

What Bird sees is the little girl from two doors down now grown into a young woman. What Bird sees is that special girl using her enthusiasm to spark her team.

On the court, Lindsey stays in the moment. The past is where it belongs. The future can wait.

“I don’t think about anything about what’s going to happen before or after the game,” Lindsey said of her thoughts when competing. “I just bring it to the court the best that I can. Even if I’m having a rough day, I just focus on the game and play as best I can.”

STEVE VIRGEN may be reached at (714) 966-4616 or by e-mail at [email protected].