Claire Rothenberger would run through a wall to dig up a volleyball.
No, really. She’s tried.
Sliding after a futile dive during a summer league game, the Metea Valley junior met wall. A concussion kept her out two weeks, but hasn’t kept her attitude down.
“I just want to get whatever I can up,” Rothenberger said. “Unfortunately, I didn’t get that one.”
She’s getting plenty these days.
Now Metea’s libero, Rothenberger’s 324 digs shattered the former program single-season record of 246 set by Autumn Long last year. Metea (15-15) still has five regular-season matches remaining.
“Claire has made it her mission to not let anyone pass her, ever,” Metea coach David MacDonald said.
Rothenberger won the libero spot in the preseason last year, a position Long eventually reclaimed.
Rothenberger took the dig to heart. She set out to prove she could play libero at an elite level.
Playing for the Sports Performance 16 Blue this summer, Rothenberger was named MVP as her club team won the 16 Classic Division at the AAU National Championships in Orlando.
“Through that experience, I gained insight and leadership skills. I’ve grown so much more,” Rothenberger said. “Last year, I was quiet and shy. Now, I’m loud and a leader.”
Rothenberger carried that high into fall practice, where she beat out Metea’s former libero for the position.
A great communicator and role model for Metea’s younger girls, Rothenberger’s attention to detail makes her adept at reading hitters.
It puts her in the right position. The extra hustle speaks for itself.
“Defense, to me, is everything. It’s what wins championships,” Rothenberger said. “If you don’t have the dig or pass, you can’t go anywhere. It makes me proud that once the ball is off my hands, my setter is in a good position to get the point.”
Rothenberger followed the footsteps of older sister Kim to Metea. Kim Rothenberger, now a senior at Connecticut, was a setter and defensive specialist in the Metea program’s early years. The younger Rothenberger’s interest in volleyball was piqued peppering for her older sister in the family backyard.
She’s grown up now, growing eight inches to 5-foot-8 since entering Metea.
“Even when I’m on the ground diving, the extra length helps me get a limb on the ball,” Rothenberger said. “I’ve gotten stronger … not only muscular strength, but my endurance. Now, I can play five games and not wear down.”
Mizuno Cup: Benet, Neuqua Valley, Naperville North and Naperville Central are all in action this weekend at the Mizuno Cup at Aurora’s Great Lakes Center.
Benet, which won the event last year, is the top seed. Geneva is No. 2 and Neuqua is seeded third.
“We talk about it all the time. We are in these tournaments because we want to be challenged. We want to be in stressful matches to see how we react,” Benet coach Brad Baker said. “If you don’t feel it now, come playoff time, you have no chance.”
Benet won at Glenbard West in three games Wednesday, boosted by the return of Michigan recruit Tiffany Clark from a bruised heel.
DVC race: The DuPage Valley Conference season has reached its halfway point, with Naperville North (16-5, 4-0) and Neuqua Valley (21-4, 4-0) the lone unbeaten teams.
That will change next Tuesday, when North visits Neuqua. Neuqua follows that up by visiting Wheaton North, while Naperville North hosts Naperville Central on Thursday.
“We have a big week next week,” Neuqua coach Kelly Simon said. “We know every time we take the court, we have to be ready to play.”
Joshua Welge is a freelance writer for the Naperville Sun.
