Mundelein’s Paige Prochnow is on a mission when she’s on the volleyball court.
A 5-foot-9 senior outsider hitter who produces points for the Mustangs with aces and kills, Prochnow wants to generate confidence above all.
“My main thing is always staying positive and cheering people on,” she said. “One of the biggest team downfalls in volleyball is letting your teammates get down on themselves and feel negative. So I really make an effort to build people up and build their confidence. I put 100% effort into everything.”
Prochnow celebrates her teammates at all costs — and sometimes there is a cost. She recalls a match against New Trier in September 2024.
“We had lost the first set, then we had a really, really good comeback,” she said. “It was our game point, and my teammate got a kill, so I jumped up to cheer and celebrate.”
Prochnow landed awkwardly on her ankle and was sidelined for a few weeks due to the injury.
“From there, she struggled to get her starting spot back,” Mundelein coach Jeff Blezien said. “But she was always asking, ‘How can I get better? What can I do? What can I do to make my teammates better?’
“And anything that I’ve ever asked of her, she’s done to the best of her ability.”
Prochnow learned something while she was injured.
“It was really hard because I love volleyball and love to be on the court,” she said. “But it taught me a really good lesson that you can still be a very important part of that energy from the bench.
“So I just kind of accepted that I had a new role on the team, and that was to better my teammates during practice, contribute my energy on the bench and cheer when my teammates on the court might not have it in them.”
Prochnow is hard to miss on the court this season. She has a team-high 203 kills, 186 digs and 51 aces for the second-seeded Mustangs (18-17), who will play eighth-seeded McHenry or 10th-seeded Round Lake in the Class 4A McHenry Regional semifinals at 6 p.m. Tuesday, and she also is easily heard.
“I’m a very loud player on the bench and on the court,” Prochnow said. “I’m yelling, which is kind of funny because I tend to be pretty quiet outside of volleyball.”
For Prochnow’s teammates, that energy is essential.
“She’s the type of teammate that will lift you up no matter what, whether you do something good or you make a mistake,” Mundelein senior defensive specialist Mellany Rodriguez said. “She’s the first person to always come to you and give you a high-five and be like, ‘Hey, you’re good. You got the next one.’ She’s always giving positive affirmations.”
Behind Prochnow’s cheering is a mature understanding of the up-and-down nature of volleyball — and life.
“I just know that volleyball is a game of mistakes,” she said. “The point doesn’t end without one of the teams making a mistake. So I really try and focus on the next point. Instead of dwelling on what just happened or what went wrong, I focus on what’s next.
“Same with school, social life and everything else. My parents have really helped with that. They give me that feedback when I’m in a tough spot. So I really try and apply it in every part of my life, but it’s especially useful in volleyball.”
Prochnow has channeled that into a bold mindset on the court.
“I’m playing a much more aggressive mental game,” she said. “I don’t go up to play it safe. I go up to get that point. Being a leader this year, I figured I have to set a good example. If everyone plays scared, we’re never going to have a game we feel good about.”
Prochnow left Mundelein’s win against Warren on Sept. 30 feeling very, very good. She racked up 11 aces, the most in program history and among the top 30 in state history in a single match.
“I was really excited,” she said. “I honestly did not see that coming. I felt like it was more the team that contributed to the win.”
Prochnow also aced the ACT, earning a perfect score. As she finishes her senior season, she’s applying to colleges, focused on her goal of working in the medical field.
“She’s one of the brightest students we have on our team,” Blezien said. “She’s a true student-athlete. She’s so committed to her academic success and what she wants to pursue later in life. She is just one of the best individuals I’ve coached.”
Sam Brief is a freelance reporter.