Led by strong senior leadership, the Glenbard West Girls Volleyball team seeks to win a sectional title against Benet Academy at St. Charles North this Wednesday after winning their regional championship last week vs Naperville Central 2-0.
Last Thursday Glenbard West had a commanding victory against Naperville Central in the championship game of the regional final. Winning both sets, in a flawless manner 2-0.
Coming off a great season last fall, the team had high expectations for success this year. Being a senior-dominated team with twelve out of the nineteen girls on the team being seniors has its advantages. As Head Coach, Daniel Scott put it, “They’re a tight knit team” going on to explain how the girls “have been playing together since 6th grade.” Which has been a major factor in the team’s chemistry.
Led by senior captains Avery Herbert, Breccan Scheck, and Marin Johnson, the team had high expectations for this season.
“We were able to reach our goal of 30 wins,” says middle hitter Breccan Scheck, but the job isn’t finished yet. Senior libero Penelope Vilkama talks about how the team hasn’t been able to get past the sectional semi finals in the past few years, but has confidence in the team as they’ve “been putting in work all year to get past that hump and I really think this is our year.”
Looking at it more analytically, Breccan Scheck discusses the importance of “using what we learned from our wins and losses to improve our team going into the playoffs.”
It has been a very memorable year for both the coaches and athletes. When asked about their favorite memory from the season so far several players said beating Benet in the Wheaton North tournament to win the championship, as it was their first time taking them down in over 10 years.
Senior captain and right side Avery Herbert says the highlight of the season has been, “being able to play with her younger freshman sister, Cara Herbert.” And be able to share the feeling of “amazing wins against top teams like Benet and Oak Park” not only with her teammates but also family.
Sports can get emotional and Coach Scott didn’t hold back after taking down Benet, says Assistant Coach Christine Giunta-Mayer: “Coach Scott hugged me so hard I almost fell over, it really gave everyone a good laugh.”
Playing with together for several years has allowed the team to grow and develop with one another on the court but also off the court in their relationships. Assistant Coach Giunta-Mayer discussed how, “many of these athletes have been growing together as a whole group.” Coach Mayer later explains how it allows them to bring their experiences they’ve had over the years onto the court “to form a united front.”
When it comes to sports at the varsity level, experience and chemistry is everything, and the Glenbard West girls volleyball roster has experience across the board, says Breccan Scheck.
“Our team chemistry is awesome,” says Penelope Vilkama, “having played with each other since middle school, everyone is familiar with each other not only allowing the team to adapt to difficult situations but also challenge one another in practice to make the team even stronger.”
“We know how to have a good balance between business and fun,” says Avery Herbert. The team’s bond is truly unbreakable, as Coach Scott puts it: “practice is a cool environment, the girls will show up early to practice just to hangout and talk with one another.”
With the end of volleyball season imminent in the next month, the team is going to make the most of the remaining time they have together.
“The volleyball community here at West. I’ve made most of my best friends through volleyball and everyone here is so supportive,” says Penelope Vilkama when asked about what she’ll miss most about volleyball.
Avery Herbert says, “I love playing volleyball and I’m going to be sad having to let it go, but this is the best team to end on senior year because of all the love and support.”
As the playoff battle continues, be sure to support the team as they seek to win a sectional championship and furthermore the state championship.
