Mundelein seniors ready for last hurrah

Mundelein seniors Michelle Parssinen and Kelsey Sullivan have been building toward this volleyball season since they entered high school.

And events over the last year have made this season take on even greater importance.

Although Parssinen, a 6-foot-2 middle blocker has received attention from a host of Division I schools, she recently decided not to play in college. Sullivan, a setter, missed most of last year with a fractured bone in her hand, and she is finally back at full strength.

As a result, Parssinen and Sullivan plan on enjoying and savoring every detail of their senior season.

"I've been playing with the majority of (our team) for seven years now," Sullivan said. "We know each other so well. It's so natural on the court. It feels like beach volleyball with your friends."

Parssinen and Sullivan lead a veteran team that has a chance to be as good or better as the 2002 sectional championship squad.

"It's very important that we put everything we have into making this the best possible season," Parssinen said. "All of the seniors are thinking that way."

Parssinen always thought she would play in college but injuries have taken their toll. In the last year, alone, she has battled a stress fracture in her foot and tendonitis in both knees.

She loves volleyball enough, though, that she allows some wiggle room about her decision not to play in college. When she arrived at Mundelein, coach George Dressen Jr. started her as a freshman and she's been a fixture in the lineup ever since.

"It seems like just yesterday she was a freshman," Dressen said.

Dressen said Parssinen will be tough to stop as a senior.

"She's looking the strongest I've seen her," he said. "She's more aggressive with her placement of kills and her blocking has improved greatly. The other thing is that she has become a very consistent server."

Sullivan said it's easy to set Parssinen.

"She's a strong hitter and I know she will be there every time," Sullivan said. "We click really well."

Unfortunately, there were not many opportunities for the two to click last year. Early in the season, Sullivan fractured a bone in her hand while trying to make a block in a match against Libertyville.

She played the rest of the match, but she knew immediately it was bad. After the match, she went to the emergency room and ended up missing almost the entire rest of the season.

Even though she was out of commission, Sullivan still attended every practice and match.

"In a way it helped me because I saw the game from a different perspective," Sullivan said. "It was really hard seeing our team struggle and not being able to help them out."

Sullivan performed well during club season and has impressed Dressen with her all-around play.

"She knows this is her last hurrah and she's putting forth extra effort," he said. "She's talking more on the court. Defense has been one of her biggest improvements, and she's (developed) a jump-float serve."

Dressen said Sullivan and Parssinen approach the game in the same way.

"They always have smiles on their faces," he said. "They're focused on wanting to win and playing their best."