It may only be April, but the Lake Forest boys volleyball team has already played a match that may prove to be the pivotal point of its 2015 season.
On April 8, the Scouts hosted Warren. The Blue Devils finished second at state in 2014.
“It was an important match. Our first [North Suburban] Conference match,” Scouts coach Colin Kiely said. “You want to come in and show, ‘Here we are.’ “
Lake Forest showed it might be a force in the NSC this spring. The Scouts thumped the Blue Devils, 25-13, 25-18, for their third straight win to start the season.
“We’re all kind of excited for this year,” Kiely said. “The guys have bought in and see what we’ve been trying to do the last few years.”
The Scouts have experience. No two players are more important than seniors Andrew Salzer and Michael Christensen.
Salzer is one of five outside hitters on the roster who can score from all positions on the court. But as a three-year varsity player and captain, more production is expected from him. Through the Scouts’ first eight games, the 6-foot senior has delivered. His 39 kills are good for second on the team, and his 18 digs are third.
He cites a comfort level with Kiely for his — and the team’s — early success.
“I’ve had [Kiely] for four years now,” said Salzer, who had Kiely as a lower-level coach as a freshman. “He knows how I play. We’re having more fun.”
Christensen, also a 6-foot senior, is in his second year as libero.
“He’s basically the punching bag of the team,” Salzer said of Christensen’s tenacious playing style.
The statistics also reveal Christensen’s value. His 44 digs are the team’s best. Lake Forest has a plus-minus statistic that awards points for positive plays (assists, kills) and deducts points for negative plays (service error, bad pass). Christensen’s 281 total points is second best to junior outside hitter Mason Moore (303).
Both Christensen and Salzer said program culture in previous seasons was passive. This year, the Scouts want to win and play with a tough-mindedness that is needed to finish matches.
“We’re laid back but we’re more competitive. We don’t want to lose,” Christensen said.
Kiely added: “The mentality has to change where we have to be more aggressive to win. We can’t be afraid to win a match [by a wide margin]. It’s starting to take.”
Lake Forest is not running away from competition. The Scouts finished 2-3 at a tournament at Glenbard East on Saturday, losing in three games to Benet (26-24, 23-25, 19-17) and in two close games to Downers Grove South (25-23, 25-23) and St. Francis (25-23, 25-21). Victories came easily over Conant (25-10, 25-21) and Hinsdale South (25-12, 25-16).
On Friday and Saturday, the Scouts will play against top area teams in the Lake County Invitational at Grant and Lakes.
A year ago at this time, no one expected Warren to go as far as it did in the state tournament.
“The more we play together the better we are,” Christensen said. “We know we have a great program.”
Kerr is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter: @prepspioneer
