Aiden Schindler and his Lincoln-Way Central teammates had a special fan in the stands.
Mary Brown retired after coaching boys and girls volleyball in the district for 19 years, including the past eight years with the Knights’ boys team. She watched her first match of the season Tuesday.
“It was nice having her here,” Schindler said. “I know she enjoyed it a lot. She misses us.”
Schindler and Co. put on a show for their former coach in New Lenox.
The senior middle hitter tallied seven kills and two blocks as Lincoln-Way Central snapped a two-match losing streak with a 30-28, 25-22 SouthWest Suburban Conference win over Lockport.
Schindler also put down the winning kill in both games for the Knights (16-5, 1-1). Senior outside hitter Ben Pryor produced seven kills, while senior right-side hitter Joey Vellenga added five.
Austin Williams led Lockport (18-5, 1-1) with seven kills. Ryan Beaumont chipped in with six kills and four blocks, while Hunter Fash contributed five kills and four blocks. Drew Miller had 10 digs.
Schindler, meanwhile, has had an interesting athletic career. He began in soccer at an early age before his development in that sport hit a wall.
“I played soccer six years before volleyball,” he said. “In sixth grade, I kind of got burnt out with it and transitioned to volleyball. Soccer wasn’t fun anymore.
“I joined my middle school volleyball team and enjoyed it a lot better than soccer.”
From the early days at Mokena Junior High, the 6-foot-3 Schindler has grown into a strong attacker.
Both Schindler and Vellenga were named to the all-tournament team over the weekend at the Smack Attack hosted by Brother Rice in Chicago.
“He’s a great middle,” Pryor said of Schindler. “He blocks well and is one of our most versatile hitters as he can put the ball anywhere. He can tip it. He can hit it. He can get around the block.
“And he’s a great blocker, too.”
Matt Small, who is in his first season as Lincoln-Way Central’s head coach, was an assistant at Homewood-Flossmoor. He’s definitely glad to have Schindler on his side now.
“Schindler is a presence in the middle and he’s one of those guys who puts his head down and works hard,” Small said. “He’s Mr. Reliable for us.
“I have 100% confidence when the ball is going to him that he’s going to make a play.”
After losing three-game matches to Marist and DePaul Prep to finish fourth in the Smack Attack, Schindler putting the final touch on a gut-wrenching first game against the Porters was vital.
“We had the three-game shakes over the past couple of days and it was a priority to take the lead and hold onto the lead,” Small said. “That’s going to be consistently our goal for the rest of the year.”
Lincoln-Way Central’s losses this season are to O’Fallon, Glenbard West, Lincoln-Way East, Marist and DePaul Prep — teams that entered Tuesday’s action with a combined 79-17-1 record.
Schindler liked the way the Knights were able to play strong in those setbacks.
“This is the best we’ve been for a long time,” he said. “We can go really far, especially in the state tournament.”
Schindler hopes for good things because his career will end this season. He plans on going to Joliet Junior College for a year before pursuing a business degree at a four-year college after that.
He confirmed that he will miss the excitement of playing volleyball, especially when comparing it with soccer.
“I enjoy the rallies in volleyball compared to going back and forth and crossing an entire soccer field,” Schindler said.
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
