Buczek a Catalyst for Sandburg Volleyball Team

Jenny Buczek insists Sandburg's girls volleyball team is going to find the winning combination.

"We're going to pull together, find that right lineup and be great," she said. "It won't be easy in this (SouthWest Suburban Blue) conference, but once we find that right combination and rhythm, we should have an edge. I know we can be conference champions again."

While Buczek is confident the Eagles can find the right combination on the court, she already has found hers among many interests and talents. 

In addition to volleyball, the 5-foot-9 senior also has tried figure skating and is an accomplished violinist.

"I try to be well-rounded in life," she says with a smile. "I'm not involved in figure skating as much anymore. I was going to do it on the side, but I turned my ankle really bad.

"With the violin, I was playing in the school orchestra. But with honors classes and everything, that got to be too much, so I gave it up. I still play every week, though. It's a big enjoyment, but volleyball is the most important."

Buczek, who lists 30 Seconds to Mars as her favorite band, certainly has played sweet music for the Eagles on the court. She has consistently been one of the best hitters on the team since coming up to varsity as a freshman.

"The younger players look to her and succeed as she does," Sandburg coach David Vales said. "I know she wants to get past that bump in the road we've had in the sectional."

Even though she's a team veteran and has been playing volleyball regularly since fifth grade, Buczek has encountered some new challenges this season. In preparation for attending college at Kent State University next year, she has started playing at setter and has been working with setting coach Bonnie Pettigrew.

"I'm getting ready to play at Kent State, and they said I could step in right away at that position," she said. "But I still want to do what's best for Sandburg. We've got a lot of great hitters and I can hit, so I can still give that to the team."

"She's always been 'Whatever you need, coach' for me as a player," said Vales, who brought Buczek up to the varsity in his initial season as Sandburg's girls volleyball coach. "She was three years at outside, but we're trying to play her at different spots for college."

While setting is something new for her, Buczek utilizes another talent she picked up recently: the jump serve. Her serves now have a wicked bend to them, producing numerous aces.

"I just started to do that," said Buczek, who plays for 1st Alliance in club volleyball. "I kept missing my serves just standing there, so my club coach (Beth Keck) told me to jump. It's a different way to hit the ball and I can whip my body into it."

While she has found great balance in her activities and has her college plans in place, Buczek has one goal in mind when it comes for the Eagles, who improved to 3-2 Wednesday night with a straight-sets victory over Andrew.

"It's my senior year, and I want to go downstate," she said. "That's my dream right now. Once we all click, it's going to be amazing."