Shauniel Nelson entered high school playing other sports. He wasn’t happy about the way things ended Friday, but he was happy with his boys volleyball season at Brother Rice.
The senior right-side hitter, a former basketball and soccer player who transferred in the offseason from St. Rita, envisioned the Crusaders taking a state trophy.
“This season was definitely not what I thought it would be, especially toward the end,” Nelson said. “I feel like our season isn’t complete, but there’s nothing we can do about it.
“Overall, the season was great and I enjoyed it. I had fun every single moment playing.”
Nelson and senior outside hitter Nathan Kramer were fun to watch in the state quarterfinals, each tallying 10 kills in a 25-17, 25-23 loss to Lyons at Hoffman Estates.
Luke Dwyer added 26 assists for Brother Rice (32-8). Lyons (34-6) held a slight 29-26 advantage in kills, but owned a .375 attack percentage. The Crusaders checked in at .175.
The fact Nelson was able to be disappointed after playing a state volleyball match with Brother Rice is a surprise.
Few would have projected that as he entered St. Rita with a wealth of basketball and soccer experience.
“My freshman year, I took a random interest in it,” Nelson said of volleyball. “It got cut short because of COVID probably two practices in.
“I had not touched a volleyball or done anything with a volleyball before that.”
Soon, basketball and soccer fell off his radar and volleyball became his top priority.
Nelson finished this season with 201 kills, ranking third on the team behind Kramer and Brendan McCarthy. Nelson also tied Kramer for the team lead with 30 aces.
Minutes after the Crusaders beat rival Marist to win Tuesday’s Brother Rice Sectional, they found out in the locker room they were facing Lyons again.
Even though the Crusaders went 0-2 against the Lions during the regular season, retiring Brother coach Dan Dwyer said his team was “salivating” for a chance to play them again.
The Crusader did not have their full starting lineup in either match. This time, they were at full strength, but the result was the same.
“Their outside hitters are spectacular,” Dwyer said of Lyons. “We tried to push them, but we didn’t. We never made them uncomfortable.”
Dwyer, who closes out his career with a 202-87 record, finished a 31-year stint as either a head coach or assistant at the school. He missed just four matches in the history of the program.
“I feel like I’ve gone out on top because I got to coach these guys,” he said.
Luke Dwyer, Dan’s son, was sad to see the season end.
“I’ve been with this team for 18 years either on the court or in a carriage,” Luke said. “We didn’t go out on top, but it’s a great way to go out. It was a great year, especially going out with my dad.”
Senior libero Kevin Lufrano highlighted the camaraderie the Crusaders had.
“This was one of the most fun seasons I’ve ever had with these guys,” he said. “They are a bunch of dopes in practice, but when we get on the court, they are fully locked in.
“It was one hell of a ride.”
Luke Dwyer and Nelson went through quite a recruiting ride. Both verbally committed to Cardinal Stritch, which was coached by James Dwyer, Dan’s son and Luke’s brother.
But the school announced it was closing after this semester. Luke landed at Aurora University, while Nelson is heading to Lourdes in Ohio.
“Lourdes had a good connection with Stritch,” Nelson said. “I haven’t been to the school yet, but I’ve heard a lot of good things about it and I know people who have gone there.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
