Mundelein’s Paige Prochnow is on a mission when she’s on the volleyball courtroom.
A 5-foot-9 senior outsider hitter who produces factors for the Mustangs with aces and kills, Prochnow desires to generate confidence above all.
“My most important factor is all the time staying optimistic and cheering folks on,” she mentioned. “One of many greatest staff downfalls in volleyball is letting your teammates get down on themselves and really feel destructive. So I actually make an effort to construct folks up and construct their confidence. I put 100% effort into all the things.”
Prochnow celebrates her teammates in any respect prices — and generally there’s a value. She remembers a match towards New Trier in September 2024.
“We had misplaced the primary set, then we had a extremely, actually good comeback,” she mentioned. “It was our sport level, and my teammate obtained a kill, so I jumped as much as cheer and rejoice.”
Prochnow landed awkwardly on her ankle and was sidelined for just a few weeks as a result of damage.
“From there, she struggled to get her beginning spot again,” Mundelein coach Jeff Blezien mentioned. “However she was all the time asking, ‘How can I get higher? What can I do? What can I do to make my teammates higher?’
“And something that I’ve ever requested of her, she’s completed to the very best of her potential.”
Prochnow realized one thing whereas she was injured.
“It was actually arduous as a result of I like volleyball and like to be on the courtroom,” she mentioned. “Nevertheless it taught me a extremely good lesson that you could nonetheless be a vital a part of that power from the bench.
“So I simply type of accepted that I had a brand new function on the staff, and that was to raised my teammates throughout observe, contribute my power on the bench and cheer when my teammates on the courtroom won’t have it in them.”
Prochnow is difficult to overlook on the courtroom this season. She has a team-high 203 kills, 186 digs and 51 aces for the second-seeded Mustangs (18-17), who will play eighth-seeded McHenry or Tenth-seeded Spherical Lake within the Class 4A McHenry Regional semifinals at 6 p.m. Tuesday, and she or he additionally is definitely heard.
“I’m a really loud participant on the bench and on the courtroom,” Prochnow mentioned. “I’m yelling, which is type of humorous as a result of I are usually fairly quiet outdoors of volleyball.”
For Prochnow’s teammates, that power is crucial.
“She’s the kind of teammate that can elevate you up it doesn’t matter what, whether or not you do one thing good otherwise you make a mistake,” Mundelein senior defensive specialist Mellany Rodriguez mentioned. “She’s the primary individual to all the time come to you and provide you with a high-five and be like, ‘Hey, you’re good. You bought the following one.’ She’s all the time giving optimistic affirmations.”
Behind Prochnow’s cheering is a mature understanding of the up-and-down nature of volleyball — and life.
“I simply know that volleyball is a sport of errors,” she mentioned. “The purpose doesn’t finish with out one of many groups making a mistake. So I actually attempt to concentrate on the following level. As an alternative of dwelling on what simply occurred or what went fallacious, I concentrate on what’s subsequent.
“Similar with college, social life and all the things else. My mother and father have actually helped with that. They offer me that suggestions after I’m in a tricky spot. So I actually attempt to apply it in each a part of my life, but it surely’s particularly helpful in volleyball.”
Prochnow has channeled that right into a daring mindset on the courtroom.
“I’m enjoying a way more aggressive psychological sport,” she mentioned. “I don’t go as much as play it secure. I am going as much as get that time. Being a frontrunner this 12 months, I figured I’ve to set an excellent instance. If everybody performs scared, we’re by no means going to have a sport we be ok with.”
Prochnow left Mundelein’s win towards Warren on Sept. 30 feeling very, excellent. She racked up 11 aces, essentially the most in program historical past and among the many high 30 in state historical past in a single match.
“I used to be actually excited,” she mentioned. “I actually didn’t see that coming. I felt prefer it was extra the staff that contributed to the win.”
Prochnow additionally aced the ACT, incomes an ideal rating. As she finishes her senior season, she’s making use of to high schools, centered on her objective of working within the medical subject.
“She’s one of many brightest college students we have now on our staff,” Blezien mentioned. “She’s a real student-athlete. She’s so dedicated to her tutorial success and what she desires to pursue later in life. She is simply among the best people I’ve coached.”
Sam Transient is a contract reporter.
