The sky is the limit for Sandburg senior Jake Hanes.
Seriously, the sky might be the actual limit for the right-side hitter and Ohio State recruit. Doorways certainly aren’t.
More Top Picks Stone Mulchs
Hanes was one of the best players in the state last season as a 6-foot-10 junior. He’s even taller now, on the brink of 7 feet, and has to duck his head to enter the office of Eagles coach Sean Airola.
While height always is a plus in volleyball — Hanes can blast serves like few others — it has a few drawbacks in daily life. One, for instance, like creating a decent wardrobe.
“I either wear sweatpants, shorts or a full-custom suit,” Hanes said. “There’s no middle ground.”
Hanes joked that traveling can be “an experience.” He recently took a trip to California to visit USC and basically hugged his knees the entire flight.
“I’m flexible, which helps,” Hanes said. “I can usually squeeze into some tight places.”
Public transportation can be tough, but Sandburg knows it won’t travel far without Hanes looming large all over the court.
“When Jake is hitting hard from that high, it can be intimidating for some players,” Airola said. “If he plays up to his potential, he’ll be in the conversation for (Illinois) Player of the Year, along with (Glenbard West’s) Paulie Bischoff.”
Everyone is looking up to defending state champion Glenbard West. That includes Hanes and the Eagles, who handed West one of its two loses last season by pounding jump serves in the Brother Rice Smack Attack championship match.
Sandburg went on a 28-match win streak following that recipe. It will be a continued formula in 2016.
Hanes, returning setter Grant Burden, Ball State-bound Colin Ensalaco, Sam Call and defensive specialist Scott Tablerion make the Eagles unrelenting from the service line.
But in the Southland, a place where colleges stack up recruiting talent, there’s no guarantee Sandburg will even make it out of sectionals. The Lincoln-Ways are loaded, and Brother Rice is a force with Jimmy Baker, the first underclassman to win the Catholic League’s Lawless Award.
“We just want to win,” Hanes said as Airola pointed at the program’s 2011 state championship trophy.
The Eagles shouldn’t lack for motivation. They were disappointed with their fourth-place finish a year ago, failing to meet Glenbard West in the state finals after losing to Vernon Hills in a semifinal upset.
If that’s not enough to stoke the flames, Airola announced he’ll retire from coaching at the end of the season.
“I have three kids under 6 at home,” said Airola, one of the Southland’s most candid coaches. “It’s not fair to my wife.”
It’s a good group to go out with. Burden should keep the offense humming and Ensalaco is ready to prove his worth as a six-rotation player. Returning starter Tajai Ling is back to man the middle.
“Colin is going to play outside for us, but he could be one of the top liberos in the state,” Burden said. “He’s such a great player. He’s a calming influence on our team. I’m excited to set him this year.”
Logan Malloy is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.