Nazareth Academy’s girls volleyball team enjoyed its finest season ever in 2007. It’s no coincidence that senior outside hitter/setter Hilary Kluczynski led the way during this memorable campaign.

For four years, Kluczynski has been one of the most solid hitters and setters in the area. She’s spent three of those years at Nazareth, helping the team to a regional title this year and two overall.

Kluczynski originally attended Immaculate Heart of Mary as a freshman, but when the school closed following the 2004-05 school year, she transferred to Nazareth.

In three years, Kluczynski — along with Julie Schiffler, another three-year starter — has helped transform Nazareth into one of the top teams in the East Suburban Catholic Conference. Now, Kluczynski will play at Robert Morris College in downtown Chicago where she will attend its culinary school. To conclude her high school career, she is the 2007 Suburban Life Player of the Year.

“We started off well way back at the beginning of the summer and bonded well and it just carried over into the season,” Kluczynski said as Nazareth went 29-9 this year, the most wins in the program’s history. “We worked really hard this year.
“We were able to play really well together as a team.”

Kluczynski was a dual threat on the court as she could play either setter or hitter. She prefers setting simply because she’s been doing it longer, but says she’s comfortable playing either position.

“I’ve been setting since I was 12, so I pretty much like that more, but it’s nice to mix it up sometimes,” she said.

Nazareth coach Wayne Saunders was grateful to have a player of Kluczynski’s ability to work with for three years.

“She’s given us a lot of consistency,” Saunders said. “She stepped in as a sophomore and set for us, was a hitter last year and set again this year. Her consistency over the last three years has been a big plus for us.
“Sometimes for us, she was more of a consistent hitter. But she’s able to do more things as a setter, which helped us. We had a good core of seniors and a lot of leadership, and she was one of those leaders.”

At Robert Morris, Kluczynski — a Riverside resident — will set for the Eagles.

She says she chose RMC because it’s close to home and it had a solid culinary school so she can study her other true love — cooking.

“That was one of the biggest reasons, because they have a culinary school and there weren’t too many options where I could study culinary and play volleyball,” Kluczynski said. “I also wanted to stay close and I love downtown so it worked perfectly.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to play in college. My sister (Emily) played in college and I wanted to follow in her footsteps. I see myself playing volleyball after college, too. It’s a fun hobby I can keep playing.”

Kluczynski gave credit to her sister for getting her involved in volleyball. She said she wanted to follow in her sister’s footsteps and found her way into the sport that way.

Meet the rest of the 2007 All-Area Girls Volleyball Team.

Margy Acton
Junior
Fenwick
Position Libero
Stats 286 digs, 2.39 passing percentage
Achievements The junior was able to post a remarkable season even though she was hampered by a knee injury throughout 2007. The Elmhurst resident competed in just 19 games yet managed to post impressive numbers in the East Suburban Catholic Conference while leading the Friars in digs.

Ashley August
Senior
Lyons Township
Position Setter
Stats 722 assists, 38 kills, 18 aces, 176 digs
Achievements August took over at setter for Christy Landschoot, who set for three years. August more than did the job, leading LT to 25 wins and a trip to a supersectional for the fourth straight year while also being named all-conference in the West Suburban Silver.

Dina Beamon
Senior
St. Joseph
Position Outside hitter
Stats 168 kills
Achievements Beamon, a two-year starter, was named the team’s most valuable player. She was the squad’s top hitter and most experienced player this year, as well.

Jill Keeve
Senior
Lyons Township
Position Outside hitter
Stats 342 digs, 204 kills, 40 blocks, 39 aces
Achievements Keeve was a three-year starter for LT, leading the team in kills while ranking third in blocks and aces. Her 342 digs were second on the team, as well. She was named all-conference in the West Suburban Silver.

Hilary Kluczynski
Senior
Nazareth
Position Outside hitter/setter
Stats 460 assists, 90 kills,  58 aces
Achievements Kluczynski, our Player of the Year, is a four-year varsity starter, three at Nazareth and one at Immaculate Heart of Mary. She was Nazareth’s most versatile player this year, being able to hit and set for the regional-winning Roadrunners.

Claire Liston
Senior
Fenwick
Position Outside hitter
Stats 206 digs, 340 kills, .204 hitting percentage, 25 aces, 85 blocks
Achievements Liston capped off her terrific career with arguably her best season ever. The senior earned a spot on the all-East Suburban Catholic Conference team for the second consecutive year after leading Fenwick in multiple statistical categories. She also led the Friars to a regional championship.

Jen Milligan
Sophomore
Nazareth
Position Outside hitter/libero
Stats 127 kills, 34 aces
Achievements Milligan’s 127 kills placed her second on Nazareth behind Julie Schiffler. Only a sophomore, she is the future face of the program after getting valuable experience as a freshman last year. She can play in the back row or up front.

Regan Riley
Junior
Riverside Brookfield
Position Outside hitter
Stats 259 kills, .244 hitting percentage, 50 aces, eight blocks, 191 digs
Achievements This all-Metro Suburban Conference team member was a consistent force on the court and was arguably the Bulldogs’ most complete player with her defensive and offensive skills. She also provided a very steady jump-serve.

Alison Salerno
Senior
Lyons Township
Position Libero
Stats 532 digs, 57 aces, 31 kills
Achievements Salerno was much more than a libero for LT this year, leading the team in digs. She was solid defensively while also pitching in with kills and sets. Her leadership will be missed.

Julie Schiffler
Senior
Nazareth
Position Outside hitter
Stats 149 kills
Achievements Her 149 kills led the Roadrunners. She is a three-year starter and was co-captain with Hilary Kluczynski. She also is a three-sport athlete at Nazareth.

Roxanne Schliep
Senior
Riverside Brookfield
Position Outside hitter
Stats 151 kills, 30 aces, 111 digs, four blocks
Achievements Described by Bulldogs’ first-year head coach Jessica Andrasko as a “fire ball on the court,” Schliep played both middle and outside throughout 2007. The senior provided impressive defense and passing, and was on the court for the Bulldogs about 90 percent of the time. She was named the Metro Suburban Conference’s most valuable player.

Honorable Mention
FENWICK Colleen Quaid; LYONS TOWNSHIP Kelly Coombs; MORTON Jessica O’Brien, Vlasta Mangia; NAZARETH Jill Paluch, Stephanie Polich; RIVERSIDE BROOKFIELD Rachel Buccieri, Molly McCloskey; ST. JOSEPH Michelle Zarbock