Makayla Olar, 13, of Lincolnwood hustles for the ball during a game on the sand volleyball courts at Richard E. Johns Park in Glenview recently.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Jessica Riedl of Des Plaines wasn't sure that she'd be able to play volleyball at all this summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
When the sand volleyball courts opened at Richard E. Johns Park in Glenview, she and her friends, who competed at the high school, college and club levels, have been able to play outdoors.
With Chicago beaches closed and indoor play limited, the four courts at the park have been busy this summer.
Riedl and her friends, all in their 20s, played 3-3 on a recent warm, sunny afternoon.
"We've been coming out twice a week, Riedl said. "We started the first day it opened in June."
"We've been here ever since," she added.
Their game was as competitive as one would expect from players of their skill level.
Serve. Dig. Set. Kill.
The women playing with the group were among the tallest, and while a player on the attacking team would leap for the kill at the net, her opponent would counter the attack with a block attempt during the fast-paced game.
Riedl said the courts have been crowded this summer, so the group tries to get to the park early to claim one.
She said she thinks about the pandemic a little bit, but not so much once they start playing. During 3-3 games, players are generally far apart, Riedl said.
Nick Limjoco of Morton Grove is the organizer of the group, and he said the friends have been playing together in Glenview for several years. He's happy that the courts opened so they can play outdoors together.
Camelia Olar of Lincolnwood is among another group of regulars playing at Johns Park on Central Road, just west of Harlem Avenue.
Olar and her daughter, Makayla, 13, were playing a 2-2 game with Gabriela Bujdei of Skokie and her daughter, Grace, 16.
Male members of their group were playing on an adjacent court that day.
Her family has played at Johns Park for a decade.
When her children were little, they used to try to claim the most westerly court so they could watch their children. Now that the children are teenagers, it isn't an issue, but she has noticed that the courts are crowded this year.
"This year has been crazy-busy," Olar said. "We've been coming here for 10 years, and I've never seen it this busy."
With her back to the net, Camelia Olar of Lincolnwood keeps the ball alive while playing on the sand volleyball courts at Richard E. Johns Park in Glenview recently.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Grace Bujdei of Skokie digs while playing on the sand volleyball courts at Richard E. Johns Park in Glenview recently.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Camelia Olar of Lincolnwood celebrates a point while playing on the sand volleyball courts at Richard E. Johns Park in Glenview recently.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Jessica Riedl of Des Plaines, right, leaps for a kill and Olivia Rusek of Morton Grove attempts a block while playing on the sand volleyball courts at Richard E. Johns Park in Glenview recently.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Jessica Riedl of Des Plaines hustles to keep the ball in play during a game on the sand volleyball courts at Richard E. Johns Park in Glenview recently.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Kamryn Malloy of Roselle, right, and Eric Truong of Chicago play the ball at the net during a game on the sand volleyball courts at Richard E. Johns Park in Glenview recently.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Olivia Rusek of Morton Grove keeps the ball in play as Nick Limjoco, also of Morton Grove, gets ready on the other side of the net as they play on the sand volleyball courts at Richard E. Johns Park in Glenview recently.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Olivia Rusek of Morton Grove gets a dig while playing on the sand volleyball courts at Richard E. Johns Park in Glenview recently.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Sophia Galassini of Chicago serves while playing on the sand volleyball courts at Richard E. Johns Park in Glenview recently.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Ben Bujdei, right, of Wheeling sets the ball for his cousin, Ben Bujdei Sr., of Skokie during a game on the sand volleyball courts at Richard E. Johns Park in Glenview recently.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Aerial view of games on the sand volleyball courts at Richard E. Johns Park in Glenview recently.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com