Girls volleyball: Grayslake Central progressing under ex-star Basierak
Klaudia Basierak had good timing at the net when she slammed and blocked volleyballs for Grayslake Central years ago.
She experienced good timing again earlier this year.
"I got a text message from former coach Jason Janczak," Basierak said. "I was out in Iowa and wanted to come home. And they had a teaching post for me as well in special education."
Basierak returned to Grayslake Central and serves as the girls volleyball team's coach. She replaced Janczak, her high school coach from 2009-11. Janczak stepped down last season after 13 years.
One player Basierak inherited was junior outside Marissa Gulley. On Tuesday night, Gulley put away 8 kills as the Rams ran away and hid from visiting Waukegan 25-15, 25-15 in a nonconference match.
"I can tell we are really progressing," Gulley said after helping the Rams improve to 5-9. "I like to be the loud person on the court for our team."
With senior Taylor Hindman at the service line, Gulley registered a kill in the first set as the Rams jumped out first.
"It's been a different season for us," said Hindman, who served 3 aces. "We had a kind of a slow start.
"I'm trying to step up and be a leader for our team," she added.
Hindman was back at the serving line when the Rams pulled ahead for good.
Basketball standout Kate Bullman (3 kills, 5 blocks) put one down, Gulley registered another kill, and suddenly the Rams were up 18-11. Bullman closed out the first set with a dump shot.
Hindman was at the service line in set two. She used a Bullman block and kill and a Gulley kill to put the Rams up 4-0. Cailin Hawn registered aces to extend the lead to 16-8.
"Taylor and Marissa are both good at terminating the ball," said Basierak, who graduated as the Rams' all-time leader in single season and career kills, and then enjoyed a great career at the University of Dubuque.
A Hindman ace put the match to bed.
"We still have a young team," Hindman said. "But we are improving."
Taylor Ford led the GC defense with 7 digs. Setter Sarah Chiappetta notched 10 assists.