Boys Volleyball: St. Charles serves up win at defending champ DeSales in CCL opener
Tuesday, March 26, 2024
By Michael Rich
mrich@cbussports.com
St. Charles’ Stuart Hankinson had nine aces against host DeSales in the Cardinals’ 3-0 win March 26. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Stuart Hankinson walks up to the end line and then takes four steps back on every serve. That routine and a change in approach has served the senior well this season.
Hankinson had six consecutive aces to close out the second set and nine overall to lead the St. Charles boys volleyball team to a 25-23, 25-12, 25-19 victory over host DeSales to open Central Catholic League play on March 26.
“Last year, I did a standing foot-ride on my jump foot, and it didn’t work as well,” said Hankinson, a full-rotation player who also had six kills. “I’ve been struggling with top-spine for about three and a half years now – ever since I started playing high school. It was really just a process just changing it to the top spin. But I think I got good enough this year that I can do it.”
Coach Ned Gruber said serving more aggressively is a team-wide mantra for the Cardinals (7-1, 1-0).
Michael LaSusa served up two in a three-point rally that gave St. Charles the lead for good in the first set and Jack Koesters had three consecutive aces in the second set to back Hankinson’s effort.
Michael LaSusa of St. Charles with a jump serve against host DeSales during the Cardinals’ three-set win March 26. Photo: Kevin Rouch
“Last year, (Hankinson) float-served and it was O.K. – he missed probably a little more than we liked,” Gruber said. “But it’s the whole team this year where we’re taking the philosophy of serving a little tougher. So, we have a lot of guys topspin serving that last year were not.”
Gruber got inspiration from the Ohio State teams that won national titles in 2016 and 2017.
“They just went after it super hard and that’s why they won,” he said. “They were way tougher than other teams. We’re trying to put more pressure on the opponents. We miss more and I’m learning to live with that. But when we’re on, we’re really on. It all kind of balances out in the end.”
Koesters led with nine kills, LaSusa had nine digs and Thomas Clark and Connor Cole had three blocks each for St. Charles.
It’s a whole new year and a whole new team for the Stallions (0-3, 0-1), who are defending Division II state champions.
Jack Koesters (2), who led St. Charles with nine kills, tries to hit one past DeSales’ Dominic Trolli during their match at DeSales March 26. Photo: Kevin Rouch
“Something that we try to emphasize in the program is that we’ve got to do the basics well,” first-year DeSales head coach Andrea Navar said. “I would like to see it more consistent than it was. I think when we do the simple things well – that’s where we’re going to earn some points.”
Theaddus Kyeremen, Kenny Ngo and Dominic Trolli each scored points in a 9-2 rally late in the third set for the Stallions. Aaron Firmalan led DeSales with seven kills.
“I knew it was going to be a tough matchup for us since we’ve had to replace essentially everybody in our starting lineup,” Navar said. “But I’m proud of our guys and I told them after the match (that) once we find our identity, – once we’re able to settle in and really trust each other – I think we’re going to do big things. It’s early in the season and I’m not ready to give in and I don’t think they are either.”
DeSales’ Aaron Firmalan (2), who led the Stallions with seven kills, hits one at the net with St. Charles’ Thomas Clark (22) and Connor Cole trying to block the shot at DeSales March 26. Photo: Kevin Rouch