Last season, Lockport’s Austin Williams was voted as the team MVP by his peers. With that on his resume, he was ready to do some damage in 2026.
The problem? The 6-foot-4 senior middle hitter had some damage done to his right thumb.
“In the first week of tryouts, I had a really tough block,” Williams said with a grimace. “My thumb basically got shot back — almost to the back of my hand. I ended up spraining a ligament.”
Williams, who has been able to play with the injury, hopes to get back to being 100% soon.
It has been a big thumbs-up so far this season for the Porters, though. After ending up with a rare losing record last spring, they are back to their winning ways, including a second-place finish Saturday at the Argo Invitational in Summit.
Williams, an Edgewood recruit, had seven kills and two blocks in a 25-22, 25-14 loss to Lyons in the championship match and seven kills in a wild 24-26, 25-20, 18-16 semifinal win over Shepard.
Senior middle Ryan Beaumont added 12 kills for Lockport (12-2) in the semifinals and joined senior libero Drew Miller on the all-tournament team. Noah Bluhm tallied six kills in the final.
Lewis commit Brody Lee-Caracci led Lyons (5-2) with five kills.
Williams, meanwhile, wears a black brace to protect the thumb during matches. Off the court, he’s going for treatment to get the finger back into shape.
“I have a portable ultrasound machine and it pumps frequency which gets the blood to flow,” Williams said. “I try to use it one or two times a day.
“Sometimes, the thumb gets a little sore because there’s a lot of blood flow and pressure getting into the area, but it’s not holding me back whatsoever.”
Lockport coach Nick Mraz is just glad the injury wasn’t worse.
“He’s a part of that duo of our middles that are definitely an asset,” Mraz said of Williams and Beaumont. “Against the teams we’ve played, I would say we have the strongest middle combo.”
Bluhm, a sophomore outside, admires his senior teammate.
“He brings the energy and has huge blocks and big swings,” Bluhm said of Williams. “He’s smart and supportive. He’s an energy guy, for sure. He’s always talking and getting us going.”
Noah is the younger brother of 6-8 Josh Bluhm, a Lockport alum who’s a sophomore on William Penn’s roster.
More Top Picks Best Humidifiers For Sinus Problems
While the 6-2 Noah is following in his brother’s footsteps, he may not be able to measure up to him as far as height goes, even in the future.
“Doctors predict 6-3 or 6-4,” Noah said.
Like his brother, Bluhm has power. And he’s getting a good education on the varsity as a sophomore.
“It’s been a great opportunity,” Bluhm said. “The guys have been supportive and super helpful.
“It’s a real fun team to be on.”
Since 2013, the only losing season for the Porters came in last spring, when they went 15-20. But they have plenty of firepower returning.
Williams thinks Lockport has talent and makeup to keep the early winning going.
“The biggest thing I like about this team is the community we have built,” he said. “We depend on each other and we definitely try to hold each other accountable.
“We’re constantly talking to each other and we’re laughing and hanging out with each other. Then, we’re able to come onto the court and turn that switch on and then demolish.”
Williams will have company at Edgewood, an NCAA Division III program in Madison, Wisconsin. Miller and senior setter Antonio Fiordirosa are also planning on playing at Edgewood, which enters this week with a 9-14 record.
“We’re going to make that team better,” Williams said. “With us three coming in, hopefully we can fill some spots.”
“We can call it Lockport U,” Mraz said.
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.