Being selected to play on Marist’s varsity as a freshman came with a caveat for Max DeHoyos.
The 6-foot-2 right-side hitter was told by RedHawks coach Jordan Vidovic that playing with the big boys wasn’t always going to be an “all feel good” experience. And DeHoyos accepted that.
“It’s going to be hard because you are going to play against older kids,” he said “It’s going to be more of a mental challenge and a physical challenge against players who are older than you and bigger than you usually.
“But it’s a good challenge, too.”
And it’s a challenge he has been meeting. DeHoyos definitely delivered a feel-good experience Saturday in helping Marist win the title of the Smack Attack hosted by Brother Rice in Chicago.
DeHoyos had 11 kills — including seven in the first game —as the RedHawks toppled Glenbard West 25-22, 21-25, 25-17 in a rematch of the 2025 state championship match.
Briggs Corona, a junior outside hitter committed to Ball State, added 14 kills for two-time defending state champion Marist (17-4). Drew Fiedler tallied 35 assists. In an unusual coincidence, Billy Bochenczak, who wears No. 15, scored the 15th point in each game.
DeHoyos also came through with seven kills for Marist in a 22-25, 25-17, 25-22 semifinal win over Lincoln-Way Central.
“He’s getting game reps,” Vidovic said of DeHoyos. “He’s getting adjusted to reactions and putting himself into position to feel more and more comfortable with what he has to do at the net.
“He’s also meshing with brand-new guys. He wasn’t even in high school last year, so that’s a big jump.”
It’s why Vidovic let DeHoyos know about how tough life could be on the varsity.
“I’ve challenged him knowing this wasn’t going to be all feel good,” Vidovic said. “A freshman on varsity is not going to be a feel-good year. It’s going to be learning on the fly and exposing some things you have to work on.
“If you’re a determined player, you want that. You don’t want to cruise along and playing with younger players, and he’s taken that in stride.”
Sophomore middle hitter Jack Belda tallied six kills in the second game for Glenbard West (16-2), which was ranked third in the state by illprepvb.com.
Saturday’s bracket round of the tournament saw Marist play three matches that went three games.
After the grueling semifinal win over Lincoln-Way Central at Mother McAuley, the RedHawks took the short walk over to Brother Rice. After a quick break to regroup, they took on Glenbard West in the final.
Marist, which has scant returning experience from last year’s national powerhouse, jumped out to leads of 5-0 and 16-5 in the ninth game of the day against Glenbard West.
That was impressive.
“I think it’s good that we’re always ready,” DeHoyos said. “I like how right away we just got locked in there. That not normal for a lot of teams.
“They (Glenbard West) have a good team and I think they expected to do really well against us, but Charlie (Honkisz) had a lot of good serves at the beginning.”
DeHoyos began playing the sport through the urging of his father, Danny, who was a setter at St. Rita.
“I didn’t really want to play volleyball,” Max said. “I thought it was a girls sport, so I didn’t want to play it. But I started playing in fifth grade and started playing club in seventh grade.”
He’s grown to love it.
“I love the team aspect of it,” DeHoyos said. “You are always touching the ball on every play. In other sports, you get the ball once in a while, but here, you always have to be ready.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
