Huntley setter Carroll finds D-I home

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The more Amanda Carroll saw of Spartanburg, S.C., and South Carolina Upstate on her two visits, the more she realized it was the place for her to continue her volleyball career.

The Huntley senior visited in August, then again in September, and signed her NCAA letter of intent last month to play at the NCAA Division I school on an athletic scholarship.

Carroll, a 5-foot-8 setter, was a three-year starter at Huntley and played club volleyball for Sky High since she was 13.

“It’s so pretty; I fell in love with the campus, and the girls were great,” Carroll said. “I could see myself playing at that school.”

Carroll also feels like she’s in the right situation with the lineup since the Spartans have two setters, one of whom is a senior. She was told she could start as a freshman and the other setter might move to libero. Otherwise, the Spartans could run a 6-2 set in which the setters would rotate in and out.

Carroll also liked that Upstate has an enrollment of 5,000 students.

“I want to be in classes where I can get to know other students and my professors,” she said.

Carroll visited Upstate and West Georgia, a D-II school, and also had some interest from D-I Rider. She visited Upstate just before its season started, then again in September.

“I started thinking about [playing in college] my sophomore year,” Carroll said. “My junior year I improved a lot, and colleges started contacting me. I love playing, and I wanted to continue.”

Upstate made the jump from D-II to D-I in the 2007 season. Carroll also plans on majoring in accounting, and there are BMW offices in Spartanburg where students often get internships, which was just another selling point.

“It’s a great fit for her. It’s a smaller school, and she’s going to get the opportunity to set during her freshman year for them,” Huntley coach Michelle Jakubowski said. “She’s a great leader. She will do absolutely anything and everything she can for her team. She works so hard to improve her game. I think they’re getting a fantastic player.”

Making the grade: Several area baseball seniors were listed in Prep Baseball Report, a magazine and Web site that scouts and ranks players throughout Illinois.

Crystal Lake Central pitcher Connor Sadzeck, a 6-foot-6 right-hander who reaches the low 90s, was ranked No. 8 in the state. Sadzeck signed with Oklahoma last month.

Cary-Grove shortstop Chris Waylock is No. 22, Prairie Ridge center fielder Kevin Kaczmarski is No. 33, Huntley outfielder Chris Klein is No. 85, Huntley catcher-first baseman Phil Pupillo is No. 94, Prairie Ridge second baseman Chad Ljunggren is No. 120, and Harvard pitcher-shortstop Chase Blazier is No. 132.

Waylock also was listed No. 6 among defensive infielders. Kaczmarski was No. 3 among defensive outfielders and No. 3 among best athletes. Sadzeck was No. 2 for having the best fastball.

Pupillo to John Logan: Pupillo, who will move from first base to catcher this season, committed to John Logan Community College in downstate Carterville to play next season.

Pupillo hit in the middle of the lineup last season for the Red Raiders, who set a school record finishing 30-7-1. He usually hit No. 2 or No. 5 for the Raiders.

Jacobs’ Gigeous to receive award: Jacobs sophomore pitcher Henry Gigeous will receive the Bo Jackson Courage Award from the Pitch and Hit Club of Chicago at its annual meeting Jan. 17 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.

Gigeous is the half-brother of late Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart, who died last spring in an auto accident. Gigeous played some games with Jacobs’ varsity team last season and will be one of the area’s top sophomores this season.

• Joe Stevenson covers high school sports for the Northwest Herald. He can be reached at 815-526-4513. He also can be reached by fax at 815-459-5640 or by e-mail at jstevenson@nwherald.com.