Positively successful Baader plays a key role as Sky High 16 Black takes fifth at national tourney

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Stevenson's Rachel Baader (right), seen here during the high school season, helped Sky High 16 Black take fifth in the USA Volleyball National Championships. | Rob Dicker~Sun-Times Media

Updated: January 23, 2012 2:39AM

Stevenson High School junior Rachel Baader was all smiles after the Sky High Volleyball Club’s 16 Black team placed fifth in the nation at the 2011 USA Volleyball National Championships in Atlanta.

Baader’s squad ended up losing to the team which advanced all the way to the championship match of the tournament that concluded July 4.

“We’re a team that plays fast and to the level of teams we’re playing,” said Baader, an outside hitter. “When we play great teams, it makes us better. We had to produce in tough situations and that made us a lot stronger.”

Of course, Baader would have come back from Atlanta all smiles even if Sky High had struggled. Staying positive on the volleyball court is one of her trademarks.

“She’s so positive,” said Sky High teammate Layne Self, a junior at Lake Zurich. “She keeps everyone lifted up around her. She’s a really good leader on the court.”

The power of positive thinking is something that Baader’s parents and volleyball siblings have always impressed upon her. Baader, 5-foot-11, is the youngest of four children and her three siblings blazed a strong volleyball trail for her to follow.

Baader’s oldest sister, Jennifer, started the tradition at Stevenson. Older sister Kristen starred for the Patriots and just finished up a four-year career with Boston College. Kristen was named a captain of the Eagles in her senior year and is just one of eight Boston College players to notch 1,000 digs for their career. Her older brother John starred for the Stevenson boys team as an outside hitter.

“My family always says that staying positive is what can set you apart from other people,” Baader said. “Even if you don’t feel positive, fake it till you make it. When you smile other people feel confident. I like being mentally tough in pressure situations. When other girls get nervous or down, I really get satisfaction from helping them stay positive with a smile on their face.”

Baader had the luxury of practicing with Kristen when she came home from college.

“She made me realize that you have to remain mentally tough even on days when you don’t play your best,” Baader said. “She fought to keep her spot for four years, and volleyball taught her a lot for the real world. Now, I really want to play college volleyball.”

Lake Zurich senior Amanda Orchard, a University of Pittsburgh recruit, has no doubt Baader can play at that level.

“She’s a great player, and she knows exactly where to place the ball,” Orchard said.

Baader said especially at the club level with huge middle blockers, she must mix up where she attacks.

“It’s not just about pounding the ball to the ground,” she said. “I’ve worked a lot on (different) shots.”

As Baader turns her focus to the high school season, she can’t help but be excited at her next challenge. The Patriots lost nine seniors from last year’s team which advanced all to an IHSA supersectional.

She is looking forward to mentoring some of the younger players. In fact, she’ll do it with a smile.

“I want to build relationships with the younger girls on the team,” she said. “We’re going to expect a lot from them and I want them to feel comfortable.”

Sky High 17 Black: This sqaud, which won an AAU National Championship earlier this summer, at the USA Volleyball National Championships in Atlanta.

“The age group is the deepest in talent nationwide that I have ever seen in my 25-plus years of coaching,” Sky High Executive Director Scott Harris said.

The 17 Black team defeated the defending National Champions from Nebraska and lost a tough quarterfinals match to an Atlanta team, 30-32, 19-25. Among its team members are Mary Striedl (Lake Forest) and Amanda Orchard (Lake Zurich).

Sky High 15 Purple: This team also made quite a splash in Atlanta, even though it posted a 3-6 record. It was recognized for distributing more than 3,500 temporary tattoos to honor breast cancer awareness. The team wore hair ribbons, custom-made tattoos on their wrists and pink sweatbands on their ankles to support the cause. The squad includes Kara Maleski (Stevenson), Alexa and Peyton Bykowski (Stevenson), Haley Nedelka (Carmel), Alaina Murphy (Buffalo Grove), Elise Palombella (Lake Forest) and Alex Basler (Libertyville).