Updated: Friendship Permeates Lanzillotti’s Choice to Play Volleyball at Akron

Sports and friendship have always been intertwined for volleyball star . 

From life-long friends like Scout teammates and to the new ones Lanzillotti has already made after verbally committing earlier this week to the University of Akron, sports is about comradery. 

College volleyball was a certainty for Lanzillotti before the 2011 season began. She had a number of possibilities including schools like Northern Illinois from the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and as far east as Rhode Island.

However, a recent trip to Akron sealed the deal. 

“I liked the team chemistry,” Lanzillotti said. “I could see I was welcome.”

Though nearly sold, she decided to return to Lake Bluff and reflect. She promised herself she would give it a week. 

Once she confirmed her first impressions as real, Lanzillotti called Akron coach Ron Arenz and gave him the news. Not long after, her sense of friendship and belonging with the Zips were confirmed. 

“As soon as they (the Akron team) learned I was coming, they all friended me on Facebook,” Lanzillotti said. 

Lanzillotti also saw a friendship and familiar link between Arenz and Lake Forest coach Ray Werner. She saw similarities between coaching styles and sought the continuity when she looked at playing at the next level. 

“They (Arenz and his assistants) are just like and (assistant coach Joe) DeRosa,” Lanzillotti said. “I looked at a lot of schools and they (Arenz and his staff) were so nice to me.”

Werner lauds Lanzillotti’s choice and returned the compliment to Arenz. “I think Akron has a fantastic gem coming to join their team,” Werner said. “The Akron program that she is joining has talented and energetic coaches that will be able to push her along.”

Another factor was an opportunity to play as a freshman. The Zips lose just one senior off their roster after finishing 4-25 overall and 1-15 in the MAC this past season.

Akron’s location on the eastern side of Ohio and membership in the MAC were also important to Lanzillotti. “It’s only six, seven hours away and my parents can come watch me play,” she said.

She also won’t be far from Striedl, who will play for the University of Pittsburgh next season. Though the two schools do not share conference affiliation, Lanzillotti likes the proximity. 

“Akron is only an hour from Pittsburgh,” Lanzillotti said. “We can’t wait to spend weekends with each other and watch each other play. California will be harder.” 

Lanzillotti’s reference to California is about Sierks, who will play college volleyball for the University of California at San Diego. Lanzillotti is thrilled her high school friends will all be competing at the next level. 

“It’s awesome to see us three competing in college,” Lanzillotti said. “When you have three friends from one school all playing volleyball in college, it shows our drive.”

That drive helped the Scouts finish 32-5 this season, win their first regional championship in a decade and a North Suburban Conference overall championship since 1998.

Werner also recognizes the significance of his three college-bound athletes. “One of the wonderful bonus traits that each of these athletes possess is their loyalty to their friends,” Werner said. "They were all very well liked and admired by their teammates, just as they loved and admired them.”

Individually, Lanzillotti collected all-conference, all-area, and third team all-state honors capped by a recent participation in the High School Girl’s All-Star Volleyball Game sponsored by Internet radio station SportsTownChicago.com.

Lanzillotti and Sierks knew each other before Lanzillotti decided to try out for the volleyball team at as a seventh grader.  “I thought it would be cool,” she said, adding, “I had tried every sport known to man.”

Once she started playing volleyball, she was hooked and made it her specialty.

“I liked being able to hit the ball hard. I like the way it is fast moving,” she said. 

Striedl, Sierks and Lanzillotti are not the only Scout athletes from fall sports teams who plan to compete next year in college. Swimmer has committed to the University of Arkansas; will play football at the University of Michigan; is playing field hockey at Ohio U; is playing field hockey at Davidson College; will attend Dartmouth; is playing golf at Yale; Mika Hvalin is swimming at West Point.