It takes a lot to rattle Chicago Christian senior Delanie Grevengoed.
The one person who understands that the most is her father Troy, who’s also in his first year as the Knights’ head coach. He’s already seen his daughter star at the highest level.
But for Delanie, a 6-foot-2 outside hitter, it’s not just father knows best. At this stage of her high school career, she has learned to listen to that be-true-to-yourself inner voice.
“I like to play laidback, in the sense of not being worried about the outcome and not being stressed,” she said. “I didn’t have many nerves (Wednesday night).”
The only ones Grevengoed showed were nerves of steel.
The Appalachian State recruit reached two significant milestones as the Knights easily downed Chicago U-High 25-10, 25-15 in the Class 2A North Lawndale Sectional final.
Grevengoed had 16 kills for Chicago Christian (31-8), which advanced to play the host Knights (31-1) at 6 p.m. Friday in the IC Catholic Supersectional in Elmhurst.
For the season, Grevengoed surpassed the 500-kill mark. She also eclipsed the 1,000-kill mark for her career, pushing her total to 1,010. She ended up with 459 kills as a junior.
That team took third place in the state in Class 2A, but her father was a spectator for the Knights. Troy is the longtime former coach of both volleyball programs at Richards.
“I am following my kids,” said Troy, who graduated in 1994 from Chicago Christian and played in college at Trinity Christian. “They got here first.
“I stepped down after 20 years at Richards last year to watch them. It has been great.”
Delanie got the Knights off to a great start Wednesday, delivering an overpowering performance as they finished the first game on a 20-5 spurt.
The second oldest in a family of six volleyball players, Delanie has developed her own persona — her own style.
“I think her most impressive skill is her mental toughness,” Troy said. “I remember during the state finals last year, she was just so calm and ready to go.
“She always wants the ball in the big moments.”
Delanie has four sisters and a brother. Her older sister, Logan, is playing at Western Kentucky. Her younger sister, Chase, is a sophomore right-side hitter.
“I started playing soccer and volleyball at the same time,” she said. “Volleyball is what I stuck with, and I just had a better feel for it.”
Part of that feel comes from her chemistry with senior setter Keely Colyer, who had 17 assists. The 6-1 Colyer is almost at eye level with Grevengoed.
“My connection with my teammates has really improved,” Colyer said. “That is a big part of what allows me to connect with my hitters.
“We had a little bit of a slow start (Wednesday), but we have a mentality that we need to keep cool and win the game.”
Junior middle hitter Nikki Swiney has been the other cornerstone for Chicago Christian. She added six kills and two blocks.
“Delanie and Keely were already on the varsity when I got here, and this is my second year playing with them,” Swiney said. “Playing with them, I like to think I have gotten progressively better.”
With seven players on the team who stand 5-10 or taller, Chicago Christian’s practices are typically more intense than many of the matches.
“They are competitive, and those practices have helped us a lot,” Colyer said. “We put everything we had on the court (Wednesday). We put our hearts out.”
For Grevengoed, that success comes from having fun.
“On Friday, knowing we can do it, we’re just going to play and do what we do,” she said. “Play aggressive, talk to each other and just have fun.
“When we just go out and have fun, we’re not stressed. (Wednesday night) was one of our best games of the season. I am looking to have some more fun.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
