Lions book return trip to state volleyball tourney

For senior Luka Kostic and other Lyons Township boys volleyball players, many surroundings and feelings were similar in this second straight trip to the state finals at Hoffman Estates High School. 

“The same building, the same gym, the same mentality,” Kostic said. “We didn’t let emotions get in the way of us. We’ve got a lot of people returning, the same coaches. Pretty much the same to me with the same goal in mind, too.” 

The Lions even drew a familiar opponent, defending state champion and West Suburban Conference Silver Division rival Glenbard West. This time, the Lions lost 25-20, 22-25, 25-15 in the quarterfinals after losing to the Hilltoppers in the 2023 championship match 25-18, 25-20.

Kostic had a single-match season-high 16 kills in 36 attacks along with four digs for the Lions (34-6). Also contributing were seniors Tommy Culver (35 assists, 6 digs), Zaccary Ruiz 9 kills, 4 digs) and Timothy Shepard, juniors Gavin Mockton (4 kills, 2 total blocks), libero Vaughn Guilfoile (8 digs, 3 assists), Tyler Chambers (3 kills, 2 blocks) and Cooper Komsthoeft and sophomores Brody Lee-Caracci (8 kills) and Owen Carroll. 

Glenbard West (39-3) finished third, beating Loyola 27-29, 25-18, 25-22 Saturday.

“Watching the film, we knew who they were,” Kostic said. “We came into the game confident. We honestly thought we could beat them and pretty much knew what we were getting coming into the game.” 

The Lions continued showing who they were as a program. The 2023 second-place state finish is the program’s highest. This season’s berth marked just the second time the Lions reached the state quarterfinals in back-to-back seasons other than 2002-03.

“It’s absolutely amazing [getting back],” Culver said. “A lot of other teams at the beginning of the season were saying, ‘You guys aren’t as good as last year.’ Everybody was predicting our downfall. But we came back here. I’d like to say LT is like a home to me, a family. Our chemistry is absolutely amazing so I think that’s a big part why we succeed as a program.”

Kostic, Culver and Ruiz excelled as the lone returnees from the 10 Lions who played in the 2023 state championship match.

This season, Kostic led the Lions with 294 kills and 36 service aces along with 35 blocks and 154 digs. He was among 15 players named first-team all-state by the Illinois Volleyball Coaches Association and will play club volleyball at Miami (Ohio). Second-team all-state Culver had a team-best 678 assists and 119 digs. Last year’s libero, Ruiz was third-team all-state and collected 198 kills and 124 digs. They now will be teammates at Augustana. 

“This senior class has been great to coach with their dedication, consistency, work ethic, commitment and dedication to the program,” LTHS coach Brad Skendzel said. “They kept the season positive and made this season their own. They never talked about or focused on the past and played in the moment which contributed to our success this year.”

The only past the Lions focused on with Glenbard West was playing better than in the 25-22, 25-23 loss May 14 in Glen Ellyn. In the second set Friday, the Lions opened leads of 16-8 and 19-14. The Hilltoppers closed to 23-22 but LTHS held with a Kostic kill for set point. 

In the third set, the teams exchanged sideouts through a 6-6 tie before the Hilltoppers pulled ahead 9-6. Another run soon followed for a 15-7 lead. The Lions scored just two points serving in the set. The first was an ace by Carroll, but by that time Glenbard West led 19-11.

“In that third set, we had that one rotation that just went on and on. I think we were just a little tense in that moment,” Skendzel said. “Especially those first two sets (Friday) and even the third set, those first few points, we were trading points back and forth. Defensively, I thought we matched up well. I think we did a good job.” 

Another difference was Culver and Ruiz said they returned to state with much more confidence. This time, seven others made their state debuts.

“I was real scared last year. But for this year I was a little more calm and collected,” Ruiz said. “I was ready to go. I was ready to play.” 

That mentality helped the Lions reach state. They won the Sandburg Sectional 25-23, 22-25, 25-12, May 28, over Oak Park and River Forest, third in state in 2023. The Huskies had beaten the Lions 25-23, 25-23 on April 9. 

“It was a great feeling. It was a really loud environment, too,” Kostic said. “We felt like obviously we could be back [at state]. We lost a lot of talent but the guys on our team really stepped up and filled those roles really well.”