The job description of Marist’s Briggs Corona changed drastically this season.
The Ball State-bound junior outside hitter was tasked with leading the team while also playing an all-around role for the RedHawks, who had lost all of their heavy hitters to graduation.
What helped expedite that process? As a sophomore, Corona got in a little bit of time hitting for a two-time state championship team that was also one of the best in the nation.
“Honestly, it was a blessing,” Corona said. “I embraced every bit of it. I loved stepping up and being that guy for my team.”
“That guy” grew into his role pretty well. Corona, the 2026 Daily Southtown Boys Volleyball Player of the Year, helped Marist take third place in the state.
The 6-foot-6 Corona led the RedHawks with 364 kills. He added 209 digs, 70 blocks and 28 aces. And as the season went on, he turned a lot of question marks into exclamation points.
Marist coach Jordan Vidovic had no idea what this season would bring. Sure, there was a lot of talent. But there was a lot of inexperience, and Vidovic needed a “that guy” type of player.
Corona showed it right away on March 26 in a 25-21, 21-25, 29-27 loss to O’Fallon that opened the regular season.
“It was against a top team in the state and he was playing with a bunch of brand-new kids,” Vidovic said of Corona. “They didn’t have any experience and he didn’t have any experience with the role we were putting him in.
“Watching him play front row, back row, serving, blocking — he’s never had anything more than just standing and blocking for us last year.
But Vidovic pointed out when Corona put up 20 kills and 10 digs against O’Fallon, “you knew he was going to be that guy.”
Corona remembered looking at all the new faces during the first practice. And he saw opportunity knocking.
“It was weird,” he said. “The Marist I knew was gone. This was an opportunity for the juniors to step up and make a name for ourselves. We could show them what Marist could be without the seniors from last year.”
Vidovic confirmed that Corona’s jump was not something everyone can do.
“It’s hard to explain how difficult an individual responsibility that he started this year,” Vidovic said. “There’s no reason to believe we would be to the level we’re at among the top teams.
“I didn’t know if that was possible, but that first game, I knew it.”
His teammates also have seen greatness in Corona on a regular basis, according to junior setter Drew Fiedler.
“Briggs knows everything,” Fiedler said. “He’s definitely one of our go-to guys on the team. He’s one of our role models. He’s someone we look up to. He’s very smart with the game.
“He’s smart with his shots, but he can also pound balls.”
Corona, a tight end, was a football standout who was on the recruiting radar of Iowa, Purdue, Fresno State and USC. He will not playing football this fall for Marist.
Instead, Corona wants to concentrate on volleyball. In club, he’s playing up a year on a team that features Southland stars Easton Donausky of Sandburg and Sebastian Pardol of Argo.
Their club team won the Pre-National Boys Showdown on Saturday in Indianapolis.
“It’s great to play up,” Corona said. “It helps me so much for the high school season.”
Corona will also join a Tennessee-based 19U team at the 2026 USA Volleyball All-Star Championships for national and international competition July 23-26 in Columbus, Ohio.
After that, Corona will get ready for the spring. And while this year’s third-place finish was a pleasant surprise for the RedHawks, the expectations have already been ramped up.
“To be honest, it’s fuel for next year,” Corona said. “We’re going for it all next year.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
