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Introducing the 2024 Daily Southtown Boys Volleyball All-Area Team


State champion Marist, state qualifier Lincoln-Way West and juggernaut Lockport lead the first and second teams.

First Team

Jeremiah Aro, Sandburg, junior, right-side hitter: Ended up with 300 kills and 50 blocks for Eagles. All-state, all-conference.

Josh Bluhm, Lockport, senior, right-side hitter: Had 338 kills and 155 digs to go with 52 blocks and 21 aces. All-state, all-conference. Committed to William Penn.

Evan Dziadkowiec, Lockport, senior, setter: Tallied 876 assists to boost career total to 2,765. Added 207 digs, 67 kills, 39 blocks and 34 aces. All-state, all-conference. Committed to Loras.

Connor Jaral, Lincoln-Way West, senior, outside hitter: Had 342 kills, 139 digs and 46 blocks. All-state, all-conference. Committed to Loras.

Noah Konopack, Lincoln-Way West, senior, setter: Notched 872 assists, 237 digs and 26 aces. All-state, all-conference.

Trey Marek, Lincoln-Way East, senior, outside hitter: Had 361 kills while hitting over .300 and providing a 2.40 passing percentage. All-state, all-conference. Committed to Illinois Wesleyan.

Justin McGary, Marian Catholic, senior, setter: Came up with 811 assists, 166 digs, 147 kills, 60 blocks and 42 aces. All-state and all-conference. Committed to Missouri Baptist.

John Mikrut, Brother Rice, junior, right-side hitter: Had 313 kills, 130 digs, 42 aces and 31 blocks. All-state, all-conference.

Aidan Peloquin, St. Rita, senior, outside hitter: Packed powerful swing and was strong on defense for Mustangs. All-state and all-conference. Made AVCA All-American watch list.

Christian Teresi, Marist, junior, setter/right-side hitter: Led RedHawks with 327 kills, 575 assists, 174 digs, 68 blocks and 65 aces. All-state. East Suburban Catholic Conference’s player of the year. Committed to Ohio State.

Nathen Toth, Marist, junior, outside hitter: Had 287 kills, 182 digs, 54 blocks and 53 aces for state champions. All-state. Named state tournament MVP by Illinois Volleyball Coaches Association. Took visits to MIT and Princeton.

Jozef Walus, Reavis, junior, outside hitter: Racked up 252 kills, 241 digs and 26 aces. South Suburban Red’s player of the year.

Lockport's Evan Dziadkowiec (15) blocks a shot by Lincoln-Way West's Connor Jaral (17) during the Southwest Suburban Conference Championship game on Thursday, May 9, 2024. (John Smierciak for the Daily Southtown)
Lockport’s Evan Dziadkowiec (15) blocks a shot by Lincoln-Way West’s Connor Jaral (17) during the Southwest Suburban Conference match on Thursday, May 9, 2024 in Lockport. (John Smierciak / Daily Southtown)

Second Team

Luke Brannigan, Marist, senior, outside hitter: Paced RedHawks to state championship with 213 kills, 217 digs, 35 blocks and 33 aces. All-state, all-conference.

Marco Budzak, Oak Lawn, sophomore, setter/right-side hitter: Had 370 assists, 157 digs, 160 kills and 31 blocks. All-conference.

Mitchell Carrera, Oak Forest, senior, setter/right-side hitter: Totaled 606 assists, 37 blocks, 103 kills and 60 aces. All-conference. Committed to Cornerstone.

Sebastian Corral, St. Laurence, senior, middle hitter: Had program-record 58 blocks to go along with a .680 hitting percentage. All-state, all-conference.

Ian Faber, Chicago Christian, senior, middle hitter: Finished with 99 blocks and .533 hitting percentage. All-state, all-conference.

Kaden Kaczmarek, Providence, senior, middle hitter: Had 197 kills and .380 hitting percentage with 51 blocks, 36 digs and 24 aces. Catholic League White’s player of the year.

Ethan Kuziela, Marist, senior, setter/right-side hitter: Had 172 kills, 451 assists, 91 digs, 35 blocks and 26 aces. Committed to Illinois Wesleyan.

Phoenix McGruder, Marian Catholic, senior, outside hitter: Totaled 316 kills, 139 digs, 52 blocks and 44 assists. Had .287 hitting percentage. All-state, all-conference.

Matthew Muehlnickel, Lincon-Way East, junior, outside hitter: Had 259 kills while passing at a 2.40 clip. All-state, all-conference. Committed to Lindenwood.

Sebastion Pardol, Argo, sophomore, outside hitter: Tallied 334 kills, 173 digs and 52 aces for Argonauts. All-state, all-conference.

Ahmad Powell, Homewood-Flossmoor, junior, outside hitter: Totaled 226 kills, 132 digs, 32 aces and 28 blocks. Had 2.31 passing efficiency. All-state, all-conference.

Kevin Rodriguez, Lockport, senior, libero: Chalked up 272 digs, 70 assists and 20 aces. Had 2.23 rating in serve receive. All-state, all-conference.

Marist's Luke Brannigan (11) during the 1st game of Saturday's semifinal match against Glenbard West, June 1, 2024. Marist won the match, 28-26, 26-24. (Brian O'Mahoney for the Daily Southtown)
Marist’s Luke Brannigan (11) hits through the block against Glenbard West during the first game of the boys volleyball state semifinals at Hoffman Estates on Saturday, June 1, 2024. (Brian O’Mahoney / Daily Southtown)

Honorable Mention

  • Colin Alvers, Lincoln-Way Central, junior, libero.
  • Myles Aquino, Sandburg, senior, libero.
  • Paul Baker, Brother Rice, junior, outside hitter.
  • Anthony Barbato, Oak Forest, senior, opposite hitter.
  • James Bullock Jr., Marian Catholic, senior, middle hitter.
  • Gabriel Chapman, Crete-Monee, senior, outside hitter.
  • Nate Epley, Homewood-Flossmoor, senior, outside hitter.
  • Andrew Flores, Lincoln-Way West, junior, libero
  • Sam Jager, Chicago Christian, sophomore, libero.
  • Drew Kregul, Lincoln-Way West, junior, middle hitter.
  • Jeremy Lin, De La Salle, junior, outside hitter.
  • Jack Meador, Marist, senior, middle hitter.
  • Michael Miller, Tinley Park, senior, outside hitter.
  • Krystian Paulich, Reavis, junior, libero.
  • Matthew Phelan, Brother Rice, junior, setter.
  • Aydin Provost, Mount Carmel, junior, right-side hitter.
  • Tyler Sempek, Andrew, senior, libero.
  • Matthew Suchecki, St. Laurence, junior, setter.
  • Kyle Swarens, Lincoln-Way East, senior, setter.
  • Juvontae Thompson, Bremen, senior, outside hitter.
  • Hunter Vedder, Lincoln-Way West, junior, outside hitter.
  • Wade Welke, Lockport, senior, outside hitter.
  • Cael Whitchurch, Lemont, senior, setter.
  • Charlie Zeiler, Stagg, sophomore, libero.

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.



Jeff Vorva , 2024-06-12 15:47:37

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