FREEPORT — Sometimes Morgan Ruppersberger amazes her friends and Freeport volleyball teammates with her body control while in the air.

“There will be times when I jump that I can turn my hips in the air and hit,” Ruppersberger said. “We’ll be in the celebration and they’ll say, ‘How did you do that?’ And I’d be like, “I don’t know.’”

It’s a gift that has served the Yellowjackets’ senior outside and middle hitter well throughout her career, but no more so than this season.

Ruppersberger, who is only 5-foot-8, has arguably been the best player on the floor for Freeport this season.

All-State player Zoe Pawlak has been limited by injuries and Ruppersberger has stepped into the void and provided kills in bunches.

She’s had matches with 18, 17 and 16 kills and has notched double-digits in that department in seven consecutive matches for 9-0 Freeport.

“It means a lot to me,” Ruppersberger said. “I’m happy I was able to step up.”

Freeport coach Tom Phillips raved about Ruppersberger and the way she has performed this season in the clutch.

“She has been marvelous for us all year,” Phillips said. “She’s really playing well right now. She’s been our leader and that’s great because she’s a good kid and she works very hard.”

And she plays all over the court.

Ruppersberger has been lethal at the net, but is also solid everywhere Phillips has put her.

To Ruppersberger, it’s normal — she’s always played multiple roles on the volleyball court.

“It just comes naturally to me,” Ruppersberger said. “I enjoy it a lot because I’m not stuck with one position so it doesn’t get boring.”

Ruppersberger said even she is shocked by her kill numbers this season.

“It is very satisfying. I’ve never gotten that many kills before,” Ruppersberger said. “I don’t realize I’m getting that many and then I see it in the paper and I’m like, ‘Wow, that’s incredible.’”

She could get even better before the season is over.

Phillips is salivating at the prospect of teaming a healthy Pawlak with Ruppersberger.

“When Zoe does play, that makes Morgan that much better,” Phillips said.

Ruppersberger is also looking forward to that day.

She hopes it comes before the playoffs and she hopes the Yellowjackets can make another long run in the WPIAL — and the PIAA — tournament.

“Oh my goodness, I’m so excited,” Ruppersberger said. “I know how good this team is. It’s my senior year, and I only have a few games left. I want it all.”

Ruppersberger also wants to keep playing in college.

It was a stance that changed not long ago when Ruppersberger, who plans on being a nursing major, decided she just couldn’t fathom giving up the sport.

“At first I wanted to play, but I want to be a nurse and I figured that would take up too much of my time,” Ruppersberger said. “So, I wasn’t going to play in college. But then a couple of weeks ago, I started seeing how well I was playing and realizing how much I love the game and I thought, ‘There is no way I can stop.’”

The challenge now for Ruppersberger is finding a school that meets both her academic and playing requirements.

No easy task, but one she is determined to see through, just as she is determined to record a kill when she is twisting in the air about to swing her powerful arm.

“It’s just a matter of finding the right school,” she said.