Teams with championship ambitions need role players like St. Charles North’s Amber Czerniak.
While the opposition tends to focus on Haley Burgdorf and Sidney Wright, the North Stars’ two Division I-bound heavy hitters, Czerniak quietly fills the stat sheet on a nightly basis.
“When everyone else’s eyes are on Haley, Amber is the silent killer,” St. Charles North coach Lindsey Hawkins said of the 5-foot-9 senior outside hitter. “She is our unsung hero.”
Czerniak helped the host North Stars put on an heroic performance Tuesday night. They had their 17-match winning streak snapped in a 26-24, 23-25, 25-21 nonconference loss to Benet.
It was the second loss to the Redwings this season for St. Charles North (22-3), which received six kills and two aces Tuesday from Czerniak. The Penn State-bound Burgdorf led the way with 13 kills and two blocks. Wright, an Illinois State recruit, added nine kills and two aces.
Benet (23-2) was paced by Lynney Tarnow, a 6-5 senior middle hitter and Wisconsin commit who tallied 12 kills and three blocks. Brooklynne Brass, a Maryland recruit, led both teams with 14 kills.
St. Charles North’s Amber Czerniak (3) saves the ball with a set against Benet during a nonconference match in St. Charles on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. (Mark Black / The Beacon-News)
Czerniak is the team’s top passer. Her serve receive helps Mia McCall, a Valparaiso-bound senior setter, distribute to Burgdorf, Brynn Hopkins, Ellie Sutter and Wright when she’s in the back row.
“You saw her back there early on getting great digs,” Hawkins said. “She puts a lot of pressure on them by playing great defense. They kept serving her and I was like, ‘Are you going to stop serving her? Because she’s passing dimes. You should probably serve someone else.’”
Czerniak, who is interested in continuing her career in college but hasn’t chosen a destination yet, was hesitant to take credit for her passing. It did, however, keep St. Charles North in the match.
“I think our block did a really nice job,” Czerniak said. “We had a strict game plan and our blockers did a great job executing it. It made it a lot easier for me to read where the play was going.”
St. Charles North’s Amber Czerniak (3) gets ready to serve the ball against Benet during a nonconference match in St. Charles on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. (Mark Black / The Beacon-News)
That helped the North Stars overcome a 19-13 deficit in the second game and force a third. Czerniak chipped in with two kills and three service points during that run to clinch a 25-23 win.
Serving is another strength for Czerniak that Hawkins looks to exploit. She was third on the team with 20 aces entering Tuesday’s match. She was also third in kills with 90 and in digs with 111.
“She’s great behind the service line,” Hawkins said of Czerniak. “We love to start out with her back there because that’s when we’re at our strongest.”
Czerniak also enjoys having Burgdorf attract most of the other team’s attention every night.
St. Charles North’s Amber Czerniak (3) celebrates a point against Benet during a nonconference match in St. Charles on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. (Mark Black / The Beacon-News)
“It’s honestly such a nice thing to have Haley as such a steady player,” Czerniak said. “It takes pressure off me. Obviously, Haley has all of the spotlight. I’m just here to make plays when I can.”
Before the match, Burgdorf was honored for being invited to the Under Armour Next All-American Game in Orlando on New Year’s Day. She’s the only player from Illinois and one of 28 nationally.
“She had many chances to go play at Benet,” Hawkins said. “Every time she said no. She wanted to be here and create a legacy. I am so privileged to be able to coach her the last four years.
“We know Haley is the Michael Jordan of the team. There’s no question about that.”
St. Charles North’s Amber Czerniak (3) tips the ball over the net against Benet during a nonconference match in St. Charles on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. (Mark Black / The Beacon-News)
Burgdorf, meanwhile, appreciates players like Czerniak helping hold the team together.
“She does a great job,” Burgdorf said. “Her passing is amazing. Whenever we need to throw her the ball, she’ll put it down. I think we’re all learning that we can’t just have one star.
“We’re all stars, no matter what.”
Czerniak echoed those sentiments.
“I feel like our mentality is to play for each other and not just ourselves,” she said. “I think it really shows on the court.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
