Sandburg’s Lizzie Boertlein could be called a Barbie girl.
Off the court, that is. On the court, she’s something else completely.
The senior setter/right-side hitter and her four sisters enjoyed playing with Barbie dolls growing up.
“I have a lot of Barbies,” she said. “We had two big Barbie houses, cars and a plane.”
So, when it came time for her to play the role of Barbie on Sept. 12 at the team’s first Fashion Show and Raffle fundraising event in the main gym, the casting was perfect.
Wearing Barbie pink, Boertlein modeled in front of an audience of more than 200 people.
“Barbie is the person every little girl wants to be.” Boertlein said.
When she’s not wearing pink heels that make her look three inches taller, the 5-foot-7 Boertlein is busy as one of the few seniors on Sandburg’s roster. She’s trying to lead a young team and has been valuable as a setter, hitter and blocker who is capable of a few acrobatic digs as well.
Boertlein and the Eagles finished 1-1 in Wednesday’s pool play for the Wheaton Classic at the Great Lakes Center in Aurora.
Sandburg (6-6) lost 25-23, 21-25, 25-15 to Immaculate Conception and came from behind to beat Yorkville 14-25, 27-25, 25-15, earning a spot in Saturday’s Silver Division playoffs, which will take place at Wheaton-Warrenville South.
Also in the 24-team tournament, third-seeded Lincoln-Way East (8-2) beat Minooka 24-26, 25-22, 25-19 and Marist’s JV 25-7, 25-14 to earn a spot in the Gold Division playoffs.
At Wheaton Warrenville South, Lemont (11-4) lost 25-12, 25-18 to the host Tigers but beat Harlem 25-9, 25-7 to reach the Silver Division playoffs.
But back to Boertlein. In a seven-day span, she went from bringing Barbie to life to helping revive her team after the loss to Immaculate Conception and getting blown out the first game against Yorkville before facing a 7-2 deficit in the second.
“Energy is No. 1 with her,” Sandburg coach David Vales said of Boertlein. “She has a motor that just keeps on going and she seems to never get tired.”
Bella Maras, a sophomore, played both right side and outside while totaling nine kills against Immaculate Conception and four in the final game against Yorkville. She’s a big fan of Boertlein.
“Lizzie is a really good setter and a nice person,” Maras said. “We have good camaraderie and good relationships with one another. She’s really fun to be around.”
Boertlein and the Eagles also had a blast at the fashion fundraiser, with freshman, junior varsity and varsity players dressing up in various costumes for an event with a Halloween feel to it.
“I was a little nervous,” Boertlein said of the show. “But I’m always nervous. I used to do plays and was nervous for them. But it’s just being in character that makes it so much fun.
“It doesn’t matter who sees you as long as long as you are out there having fun.”
Boertlein got her start in volleyball thanks in part to her older sister, Allison.
Allison, a junior majoring in aerospace engineering at the Naval Academy, doesn’t play volleyball anymore. She also had a prominent role in the school’s winter production of “Mamma Mia.”
Lizzie even wore Allison’s wig when she played Barbie in the fashion show.
“Everything she did, I did,” Lizzie said of Allison. “She is my biggest role model. I always wanted to be like her, so I started playing volleyball.”
Although Lizzie doesn’t plan on playing volleyball in college, she’s still fond of the sport.
“I love being a part of a team,” she said. “I like feeling the energy from everyone else.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
