Milestone win for Glenbard West
With young kids like sophomores Caleigh Ryan and Amanda Perry and freshman Meg DeMaar, Glenbard West coach Pete Mastandrea can't help but be excited about the future of his program.
The present is pretty nice, too.
The Hilltoppers topped their win total of a year ago on Thursday, beating Lake Park 25-16, 25-17 in Roselle.
Glenbard West (21-5), which earlier Thursday received a No. 5 sectional seed for the upcoming playoffs, needs just two wins to match fifth-year coach Mastandrea's high-win mark.
“We like our seniors, they've been with us and been a big part of what we've done here, Mastandrea said, “but our younger kids they're talented. We're real happy with that. I can't say enough about the leadership of our senior class. We've been dreaming of this.
Glenbard West has already won its own invitational and the Joliet Township tournament, and it took third at the Wheaton North Invite.
“It's awesome, said senior and third-year varsity starter Michele Waggoner. “We have six seniors who have been playing club and working hard to get where we are. We feel like we've set an example and a standard for the kids coming in.
Waggoner hopes that standard can some day come close to that of the 1983 Glenbard West state championship team. Kids like Waggoner and libero Tori Clifford, about whom Mastandrea raves is one of the best players in the area, are solid building blocks.
“They have been a big part of this building process, Mastandrea said. “I love Michele. She's a great leader. We asked her to set (Amy) Kendall two years ago. This year we're going with a 5-1 with Caleigh and Caleigh's good. I put Michele at middle back and she said, ‘Whatever you need, coach.' Her style and her leadership is why we're clicking.
The Hilltoppers were in control throughout Thursday's match. They led 22-12 in Game 1 at one point and jumped out to an 11-1 advantage in the second game. Renee Wharton put down 3 kills and Laura Luczak during the early going of Game 2, with Perry adding a pair of kills and an ace.
Perry had 7 kills, Sydney Pearson and Luczak 6 and Ryan 24 assists for Glenbard West.