Now a starter for the Riverside Brookfield High School girls volleyball team this season, senior outside hitter Alaina Harazin led the team in questions asked Sept. 4.
Dana Rettke, a 2017 graduate, was visiting the Bulldogs only weeks after contributing to the USA women’s volleyball team’s silver medal at the Summer Olympics in Paris.
“I asked a couple (of questions), yeah,” Harazin said.
“It was good because she went through a great experience and it was interesting to me. I was curious, I guess, to get good advice from an Olympian.”
The 6-foot-8 Rettke addressed all RBHS girls volleyball levels and then the varsity exclusively, sharing insight and memories about the Olympics and her professional, college and high school seasons.
Rettke was scheduled to leave Monday for Istanbul and her new professional club team in Turkiye after three pro seasons in Italy.
“Usually, I try to [visit] every summer, if I’m around,” Rettke said.
“They asked a lot of really great questions. I talked about the hard points in my career and the changes I made to be great. I talked about my Olympic experience. A little bit about the professional volleyball world.”
And yes, Rettke’s silver medal came, too.
“We all got to hold it. She passed it around. It’s a lot heavier than you think,” RBHS junior setter Claire Cameron said. “She used to come to summer camps. It’s not the first time we’ve met but it’s always super exciting whenever we do.”
Rettke texted RBHS coach Caitlin Staib-Lipinski about visiting two days before and finalized the night before. Staib-Lipinski and assistant coach Amy Frey received U.S. Olympic pins from Rettke.
“I spent literally all day with her. She’s just great, so selfless, and talked to the girls,” Staib-Lipinski said.
“She addressed all of the teams and specifically to varsity because I wanted her to have a serious conversation about how is the varsity going to be successful.”
The day began with a visit to Hauser Junior High School, where Rettke attended and Staib-Lipinski teaches.
Rettke said she hadn’t been inside Hauser since her sister Leah attended, roughly 10 years ago.
“Nothing has changed,” Rettke said.
“I know there are a lot of [her] teachers still there,” Staib-Lipinski said. “They’re asking me when’s the next celebrity I’m going to bring to Hauser.”
Rettke’s No. 15 uniform number has been retired by RBHS. Her numerous school records include the career leader for kills (1,280), blocks (259) and aces (191).
Among the people Rettke saw was Dan Bonarigo, her RBHS varsity coach.
Harazin said Rettke discussed the importance of “owning your role” on your team, such as at the Olympics, where Rettke played in one pool match against France.
Cameron learned that Rettke has no superstitions before matches. Also an NCAA champion with Wisconsin in 2021, Rettke said one of her most devastating losses was with the Bulldogs 25-22, 22-25, 31-29 to Niles West at the 2016 Class 4A super-sectional, one victory from going downstate.
“To this day, it’s the toughest loss I’ve ever had,” Rettke said. “It was a nice visit. It was nice to be able to talk to the team and share my experiences and hopefully continue to grow the volleyball world in their minds.”
The meeting seems to have motivated the Bulldogs (8-4). On Thursday, they won 25-23, 25-23 at Oak Park and River Forest. On Saturday, they won the Hoffman Estates Tournament by beating St. Viator 17-25, 25-18, 15-4 in the final.
“We were on a mission (at OPRF),” said Staib-Lipinski after the victory. “We have no pressure on us. We’re just here to play and to put RB on the grid.”