You would think that getting invited to tryout camp for the U.S. Men’s Junior National Training Team, recruited to play for the NCAA men’s championship volleyball team and having a shot at earning a national club title would net someone bragging rights at home.
Not if that someone is Jeff Jendryk.
“My sisters (Jenna and Jessica) like to remind me that they’ve won a state title and finished second in the NCAA tournament,” said Jendryk, a senior at St. Francis. “There’s a little bit of a rivalry between the siblings. But I still have plenty of time to catch up.”
Although Jenna was the leading hitter on Benet’s 2011 state title team and Jessica was a reserve on the 2011 Illinois women’s team that finished 32-5 and second in the nation, Jeff has put together a pretty impressive resume himself.
This summer will mark his second invitation to the tryout camp for the junior national team. He is one of 21 players invited to the camp in Lake Placid, New York. Twelve will be selected to represent the United States in the NORCECA Under-21 Continental Championship on July 28-August 3 in El Salvador.
“I was invited to the tryout camp last year, but I didn’t go because it was the same date as the USA club nationals,” said Jendryk, who plays for Sports Performance. “I couldn’t miss club nationals. This year, they fall on different dates, so I can do both. We have a good chance of doing well at nationals.”
Jendryk has also done well this spring, leading the Spartans to a 31-6 record and a berth in the Hinsdale Central Sectional semifinals. He was named all-tournament at the Brother Rice Smack Attack and the Benet tournament.
“Jeff has the ability to attack from any position on the court and take over a match,” St. Francis coach Mike Lynch said. “He is the most dominating hitter and blocker that we have ever had in our program. He is a six rotation player for us and is the team leader in kills and block.”
Jendryk has committed to continue his career Loyola.
“I like being close to home, I like being near a big city and the guys seemed very welcoming,” said Jendryk, who was among the sellout crowd that watched Loyola defeat Penn State and Stanford to win the national title.
“Just being there was exciting.”
Of course, none of Jendryk’s success would have been possible without a little rivalry among siblings and a gentle nudge from dad.
“There was a little push from my father,” Jendryk said. “I played basketball at the time, and he asked me my freshman year if I would rather play basketball about six minutes a game on varsity or start on the volleyball team.
“After thinking it through, I gave volleyball a shot. It definitely turned out for the best.”
