Girls volleyball notes: Wheaton North, led by a world traveler and exchange student, thinking big

If there’s anything Wheaton North senior middle Olivia Zamis enjoys as much as volleyball, it’s seeing the world.

Just before the season, the 6-foot-3 Zamis returned Aug. 10 from Ireland.

“I’m very fortunate. My parents love to travel, so they bring me along,” Zamis said. “I really love if I can experience the culture for other countries. I just think it’s so cool when there are different things. And I love food.”

Her other journeys include Iceland, the Dominican Republic and Italy. This season, the Falcons’ varsity newcomers include junior setter Aurora Zingales, a foreign exchange student from Italy.

“I think it’s a great experience for growth and I like to improve my English, but it’s also a great way to learn other things of life,” said Zingales, who visited the West Coast with her family four years ago. “It was my dream to come here for a period of my life in an American high school.”

Zingales is leaving after the first semester. While Zamis has been to Italy, she hasn’t seen Milan, Zingales’ hometown.

“It’s been kind of fun to see her mesh with the girls,” Wheaton North coach Justin Hineman said.

“I feel like as she’s learned more English and can speak it better, it’s fun to see her personality shine through,” Zamis said. “She’s really, really funny and everyone just loves talking to her. She can get more jokes and understand references so it’s really fun and cool to see the progression.”

On the court, the Falcons (7-7) expect to progress behind nine returning starters. They are looking for their second 20-win season in three seasons.

Zamis was an All-Area selection and All-DuKane Conference in 2023. She will play at the University of Chicago and study political science. Other college commits are seniors Mackenzie Nettles (Wisconsin-Stevens Point) and Izzy Gibbons (Cleveland State). Senior outside hitter Halina Istanbouli is a co-captain with senior defensive specialist Emilia Lee.

After competing in the New Trier Invitational, Zamis increased her school record to 174 career total blocks (39 solos) with 277 career kills. Her 15 solos are only one shy of 2023.

“Certainly her blocking (is a strength),” Hineman said. “I think it’s really her ability to read the setter and close and block and press and really use her height to her advantage. This year, she’s become more of an offensive threat, which is good to see.”

Zamis said improved aggressiveness and a better mindset has helped. Her goal is to exceed last year’s total of 80 blocks, No. 10 among Class 4A players. The hope of playing against her sister Delaney, a junior at St. Francis, probably won’t happen.

“I think that I’ve gotten a lot more physical as a player. When I was younger, it was kind of like I was almost scared, timid, but now I feel like I get more in the hitter’s face,” Zamis said. “I definitely need to make some changes for my blocking to be as good as I want it to be.”

Other stat leaders include Nettles (54 kills), Lee (53 digs), Gibbons (71 assists), sophomore Emily Rochford (58 assists) and junior Mary Kay Whittington and Koliopoulos (11 aces). Zingales has nine assists, seven aces and five digs primarily playing back row.

Zingales is excited to wear No. 8, the uniform number of Italian national team setter and role model Alessio Orro. Italy captured its first gold medal at the Paris Olympics by beating the U.S.

Zamis said seeing Venice “felt like being in a movie.”

Zingales needs no translation.

“I feel like I’m in a movie now here,” Zingales said. “There’s part of the culture shock, the homesick part and you learn how to be here and learn the culture. It’s a roller coaster.”

All-tournament picks

St. Francis seniors Addy Horner and Emma Delaney received all-tournament honors at the Fremd/Conant Tournament.

Hinsdale South junior Kotryna Melstrad was all-tournament at the Richard County’s Tiger Invite.

Benet won Wheaton North’s Blue and Gold Tournament behind all-tournament senior Aniya Warren and junior Lynney Tarnow. Also all-tournament were Glenbard West junior Kayla Street and sophomore Cara Herbert, Montini senior Izzie Evenson, Wheaton North senior Olivia Zamis and York junior Amalia Toliopoulos.

At Plainfield North’s Mizuno Crimson Classic, all-tournament honors went to Hinsdale Central senior Ava Young and junior Caitlin Leddy, Wheaton Warrenville South senior Lauren Coyne and Downers Grove South senior Alex Barcenas.

Lemont seniors April Rice and Izabella Kowalczyk and junior Nora Miller and Hinsdale South senior Lexi Fedinec were all-tournament at Metea Valley.