High school girls volleyball: Natalie Schilling a star for Glenbard West

GLEN ELLYN – Glenbard West girls volleyball coach Pete Mastandrea made an unbelievable announcement about senior Natalie Schilling after one of the Hilltoppers’ playoff wins this fall.

“There’s a new IHSA rule where she has two more years of eligibility,” Mastandrea joked. “She’s going to play six years. There’s only one kid that you can do it for and she’s the one.”

Mastandrea’s fantasy would be a nightmare for Glenbard West opponents, whose defenses Schilling has shredded over the past four years.

The 6-foot-2 outside hitter capped a terrific career this season by racking up 505 kills – more than twice as many as any teammate – 224 digs, 42 blocks and 38 aces to lead the Hilltoppers to a 36-6 record and the Class 4A state championship match, where they lost to St. Francis.

It was the fourth state trophy in school history for Glenbard West and first since the 1983 team won the state title behind future beach volleyball Olympian Nancy Reno.

The Duke-bound Schilling, considered the best Glenbard West player since Reno, helped the Hilltoppers go 137-21 in her career. For her efforts, she is the Suburban Life Player of the Year.

“She is an unbelievable player,” Mastandrea said. “She’s a wonderful kid, tremendous student.

“Duke got a good one. She’s going to go there and play.”

While Schilling has serious talent, her easy-going personality took some of the pressure off her teammates.

“She’s very aggressive but also one of the goofiest people ever,” Glenbard West senior setter Kate Wagner said. “So you wouldn’t expect it, but she’s very loose and I think that helps her have fun while being awesome.”

The Hilltoppers had several other weapons, but Wagner always went to Schilling in crunch time.

“Everyone just has full confidence in her that she can put it away,” Wagner said. “We have trust in everyone but we know Natalie can put it away under any circumstance.”

Despite her remarkable talent, Schilling has worked hard to improve herself with each passing season.

“I’ve just matured a lot,” Schilling said. “I think that last year I wasn’t as mentally tough. Over the club season my coach really worked with me on that and I think that helped me to get a little bit better this year.”

In the face of her prodigious physical skills, Schilling’s best attribute may be her leadership.

“Everyone knows she’s our top hitter but she doesn’t act like it,” Wagner said. “She’s amazing to play with and she really supports everyone on the team.”

Now it’s on to Duke.

“I’m really excited,” Schilling said. “I’m just looking to keep building on everything I’m doing in high school and club, just go there and be the best I can be.”

Schilling said she will miss playing for the Hilltoppers, but Mastandrea will miss her even more.

“Natalie and Kate leave a legacy behind that probably no person in the history of this school has,” Mastandrea said. “Our younger kids had the opportunity to learn from the best leaders we’ve had, the most talented kids we’ve had in our program.”

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All-area players

Glenbard South: Payton Carli, sr. L; MacKenzie Watterson, sr. OH

Glenbard West: Kate Wagner, sr. S; Quiana Ware, sr. OH/MH; Natalie Schilling, sr. OH

St. Francis: Becca Fernandez, jr. DS; Molly Haggerty, sr. OH; Kamryn Malloy, sr. OH/MB; Daniele Messa, sr. S

West Chicago: Ronni Katarzynski, sr. L

Wheaton North: Allie Maloney, sr. L; Abby Tiesman, sr. MH; Grace Tiesman, sr. OH

Wheaton Warrenville South: Kristin Martin, sr. OH