Boldog's volleyball raid extends overseas

Once a Pirate, always a Pirate.

It seems to have worked out that way for former Palatine all-area volleyball standout BJ Boldog.

He is now making a living playing the sport professionally for Chemie Volley Mitteldeutschland in Germany.

The club goes by the nickname of the Pirates. It is located in Spergau, a city about two hours south of Berlin.

The Pirates play in Bundesliga, the top volleyball league in the country. The team features players from Germany, Poland, Croatia and Canada.

Boldog, a former All-American setter for Lewis University and two-time team MVP for Palatine, is the first American for the German club since Stanford's Erik Shoji played of the club in 2012-13.

The club is coached by Ulf Quell, Germany's junior national team coach.

"I'm really excited for BJ and his opportunity to play overseas," said Lewis coach Dan Friend in the school's release. "BJ is an extremely talented player and person and I know he will continue to excel at the next level."

Boldog recorded 4,385 assists in a Lewis uniform from 2011-14.

His total ranks third all-time for a career at Lewis and first during the rally-scoring era (2002-present).

Boldog was a three-time AVCA All-American and twice earned CoSIDA Academic All-America honors. His 338 blocks rank seventh all-time in Lewis history.

He isn't the only former Lewis setter currently playing professionally.

Mike Iandolo is playing for Falkenbergs Volleybollklubb in Sweden. He is the club's first non-Swedish setter.

Iandolo played for the Flyers from 2008-10. He is second to only Boldog in career assists during the rally scoring era with 3,389. He also ranks fourth all-time in career aces with 101.

Women's soccer

Rockhurst senior forward Taylor Skala has been selected to the 2014 Capital One Academic All-America® NCAA Division II Women's Soccer First Team.

A biology major with a 3.89 GPA, Skala is now a two-time Capital One Academic All-America selection. She was a Capital One Academic All-America third-team honoree in 2012.

Skala led the Hawks to a 14-2-3 record while collecting 16 goals and 36 points. The Long Grove native led the Great Lakes Valley Conference in goals and points.

She was named the GLVC Offensive Player of the Year and earned All-GLVC honors for the fourth year in a row. The 2011 GLVC Freshman of the Year finished her career with school records in career goals (48) and career points (108).

• Denison University freshman Drew Wentzel (Conant) made her All-North Coast Athletic Conference Women's Soccer debut as a member of the 2014 first team.

Wentzel was the only freshman named to the first team.

She was also selected as the NCAC's Newcomer of the Year.

She played in 18 contests, starting 15 in her first year and helped solidify a backline that allowed just 19 goals in 19 games. In addition, Wentzel also contributed on the offensive side with 3 goals and 2 assists for 8 total points.

Women's basketball

Lake Forest College sophomore Brie Majkowski (Wheeling) averaged 12.0 points as the Foresters split a pair of games against the top two teams in the Midwest Conference Preseason Coaches Poll.

After scoring 8 points in a loss to visiting St. Norbert College, Majkowski netted a game-high 16 in a 55-48 victory at Cornell College.

She also led the Foresters with 8 rebounds at Cornell, giving her a career-high in both points and rebounds in the contest. Majkowski shot 11-for-19 (.579) from the field on the week.

Men's cross country

Butler junior Erik Peterson (Barrington) finished 22nd in a 10,000 meter time of 30:44 at the NCAA Men's Championships in Terre Haute, Ind., to earn All-American honors.

He is only the eighth runner in Butler school history to be an All-American.

• North Central senior Travis Morrison (Schaumburg) finished sixth at the Midwest regionals to help North Central finish first and advance to the Division III national cross country championships. At nationals in Mason, Ohio, Morrison finished seventh in an 8,000-meter time of 24:03 leading the Cardinals to their 16th national title and earning him All-American honors.

Swimming

Illinois Wesleyan sophomore Sam Kim (Hersey) was named the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin men's swimmer of the week for the second time this season.

Kim competed individually in the 200-yard freestyle and the 100 butterfly at the IWU Invitational.

In the 200 freestyle, he was over two seconds faster than his time last year at this event, finishing fourth with a time of 1:50.89. Kim then won the 100 butterfly in 53.65, which was two seconds faster than his time at the IWU Invitational last season and was an un-tapered best by 0.5 seconds.

He also led off the 200-yard freestyle relay with an un-tapered best in the 50 freestyle (23.10).

Men's basketball

North Central senior forward Charles Rosenberg (Fremd) was named the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin men's basketball player of the week.

Rosenberg was named the Chicago Marriott Naperville Tip-Off MVP as the Cardinals went 2-0 at their own weekend tournament.

He scored 25 points on 11-of-14 shooting from the field, along with 5 rebounds, 3 blocked shots and 2 steals during an 81-64 win over Trinity International in the season opener.

He then led North Central with 23 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists during a 77-61 win over Bluffton.

Women's cross country

North Central sophomore Amanda Cortese (Hersey) earned medals and finished sixth in the CCIW championships and she was 20th in the NCAA Division III Midwest Region.

Rugby

The Arlington Stallions Rugby Club will hold its 'Sign-Up Day' for the spring season of 2015 on Saturday, Dec. 13 at Northwest Community Hospital's Wellness Center from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The club offers competitive rugby teams for boys for grades fifth through 12th.

The registration process is relatively brief and players are requested to attend the sign-up session with at least one parent present. Club coaches will be present to answer any questions. For more information about the club, visit www.arlingtonstallionsrugby.com.

The Stallions are coming off a very successful 2014, posting a 6-1 high school record this fall after winning the Illinois Rugby Seven-a-Side State Championship in July and being rated No. 42 in the USA during the spring season.

• Please email Sports Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com.