Once the fans stormed the court after the boys volleyball team beat rival Glenbrook South in last year’s sectional finals, outside hitter Joey Calvetti was thrilled to be headed downstate.
“[Going to state] really is a once-in-a-lifetime type of thing,” said Calvetti. “It requires chemistry and the right coaching and having that perfect combination to get us all the way [to the state championship].”
After last season’s run, the team hopes to return to the state championship game this season, where it fell just one match shy of bringing home a first place trophy.
Head Coach Chris Cooper said that the experience gained from last year’s run at state will help improve a team with three returning starters. He said that coming short of winning the championship in front of such a large crowd will make this year’s team hungry for another shot at the title.
“[Playing in the championship] was just a good experience,” said Cooper. “We’ve got some guys that really know what it takes to get back [to the finals].”
Last year, the volleyball team lost in the state championship 25-21, 25-13, to Wheaton Warrenville South, who finished the season undefeated.
This year, in the team’s first two tournaments of the season, it posted a 9-1 record, with its only loss coming from Sandburg High School. After a second place finish at the Buffalo Grove Invitational, the team won all five matches it played in the Tiger Classic Invitational. Its wins came en route to the tournament title, which included a win over Wheaton Warrenville South, host of the invitational, along the way.
Libero Cody Bolan and outside hitter Brian O’Keefe were named to the all-tournament teams of both invites and O’Keefe was also named most valuable player of the Tiger Classic.
According to middle hitter Zach Lillig, winning the Tiger Classic title was a great accomplishment. Each year, the tournament is filled with some of the top teams. He said it is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the state, if not the most prestigious.
Led by seven returning varsity players, Calvetti said this year’s team has the right pieces to make another run downstate.
“We have some really talented players with those seven guys,” said Calvetti. “Cody Bolan and Zach Lillig are two very notable players.”
The seniors, which include Bolan and Calvetti, have set high hopes for this year’s team.
“Our goal as a team is to get to the state championship, [finish] undefeated in conference and get a conference championship,” Bolan said.
An adjustment for the team this year will be at the setter position. Right side hitter Jakub Barabas is making the switch to the position of setter, where he played at both the freshman and JV levels.
Just one block from Barabas, Calvetti said, can change the momentum of the game.
“Getting back to the state championship is definitely a possibility,” said Calvetti. “It’ll take a lot of hard work. We’ll have to be facing a lot of adversity to get to it, but we definitely have the players that have the drive to get back there.”