One big win for Grayslake North boys volleyball
He petitioned for the sport of boys volleyball at Grayslake North. His mom helped out. He got buddies to back him. Letters were written to athletic director Tina Woolard.
"We tried to make it happen," said Knights senior J.D. Pelegrino, who spearheaded the endeavor. "They said that (boys volleyball) wouldn't come until next year, after I graduated. So my brother (Cole) and the other juniors would get to play, but I would miss it by one year."
Then former Grayslake North girls volleyball coach Nikki Kirchway told Pelegrino and his fellow volleyball enthusiasts that the school was going to have boys volleyball and that she would be the coach.
"I was really excited to get back out there and play volleyball," Pelegrino said.
As evident by his exuberant fist pump after his block ended the first boys volleyball match between Grayslake North and Grayslake Central, Pelegrino is still excited.
"I'm happy to finally have a volleyball team after wanting it," Pelegrino, a 6-foot right side, said after the Knights captured a 26-24, 25-21 decision in their home debut Thursday night. "Perfect. Come out senior year and go out with a bang."
While Grayslake Central was playing the first match in its history, Grayslake North had already played six. The Knights went 2-3 at Plainfield North last week, then lost decisively to Libertyville on Tuesday.
With Grayslake North in need perhaps of a confidence boost, its crosstown rival wasn't about to yield so easily. The Rams had a 23-20 lead in the opening set, before landing three straight hits out of bounds. On the winner, the Rams muffed a serve by Knights sophomore libero Marshall Diep.
"We came out playing really well," said Grayslake Central coach Dan Erlenbaugh, who played volleyball at Buffalo Grove and later coached there under former BG (and Lake Zurich) coach Matt Aiello. "Grayslake North definitely played well as well. They have a couple of games under their belt, and it definitely shows. A couple of more games and I think we'll pick up a few of those little things. We're still trying to figure out where to go on the court, how to get on the court, how to start a game."
Grayslake Central built an 8-3 lead in the second set, but Grayslake North (3-4) surged ahead for good thanks to four points in a row. The run included 3 Rams errors and a kill by Knights senior Zach Schaefer.
A missed serve by the visitors gave the Knights their 24th point, before Pelegrino's third block finished off the win.
"They did really great tonight," Kirchway said of her players. "They really worked as a team and were focused. It was super exciting."
Grayslake North freshman Austin Martineau impressed with 5 kills on 14-of-14 hitting, 9 digs and 2 aces. Schaefer had 3 kills and 5 digs. Cody Seelye dished out 7 assists on 32-of-33 setting.
"We could have done better, but we stuck together," Schaefer said. "We still came out on top."
Schaefer started playing volleyball in fifth grade and has played club for three teams. While Pelegrino focused on football and never played club, Diep also has extensive volleyball experience.
"They're fun," Kirchway said. "They really want to win, they want to learn. They're just excited. I want them to get even more excited, like when we do something well."
Keegan Zack, a 6-1 junior outside hitter, led Grayslake Central with a match-high 7 kills. He also showed off a jump serve and landed each one, including an ace, inbounds. Zack is the Rams' only club player.
"He's been playing club for a couple of years," said Erlenbaugh, whose team also got 5 kills from Danny Lantz and 6 assists from Matt Kozak. "He's definitely been a great leader on our team, working with the other guys, teaching them the game of volleyball. We have a lot of athletes, but only one volleyball player so far."
Erlenbaugh is confident better days are ahead for his young group.
"The team definitely has room to grow, but I was very happy with the way we played," he said. "Looking back to when we tried out on March 7 to where we are now, it's a big difference."