As a toddler, Lincoln-Way Central junior Braeden Fiore was already setting a weighted volleyball.
Two years later, the Knights shared a conference championship with Lincoln Way East. That was the last time they won a conference title until Thursday night — and Fiore was fired up.
“I knew we were going to be special this year, but I never thought we would win our conference with so many tough teams,” Fiore said. “This is really special to be in a super tough conference, and Lincoln-Way Central hasn’t won a lot of conference championships.
“It’s been so long since we came up on top.”
Actually, since he was 3, to be exact.
To finish on top, Lincoln-Way Central had to beat Sandburg first. Fiore had 37 assists, 15 digs and a pair of kills to help the Knights take a 25-18, 21-25, 25-19 SouthWest Suburban Conference win over the host Eagles in Orland Park.
Joey Vellenga was on fire with 17 kills as Lincoln-Way Central (27-6, 7-1) finished in a three-way tie with Lincoln-Way East and Lockport for the conference title. Ben Pryor added 12 kills.
Caden Jobb led Sandburg (15-19, 2-5) with 11 kills, while Easton Donausky
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chipped in with six. The Eagles suffered two injuries as Zadok Judd hurt his foot and left the match, while Nico Vazzana was accidentally elbowed in the face by a teammate and also didn’t return.Ironically, the only thing that kept Lincoln-Way Central from a perfect season in conference was a 25-16, 25-22 loss on April 23 to Lincoln-Way East, which is coached by Fiore’s father, Kris.
Kris was watching Thursday’s action from the front row.
“When we lose to East, it’s awkward coming home at night,” Braeden said. “But when we win, I want to rub it in his face.”
That has happened just once in Braeden’s three-year career on the varsity but it came this season with a 14-25, 26-24, 25-18 win over the Griffins on March 28 at the Marist Invitational.
All the while, Fiore has been a rock for the Knights.
Lincoln-Way Central coach Matthew Small, who watched Fiore from the other bench during the past two seasons as an assistant at Homewood-Flossmoor, is glad to have him on his side.
“Braeden is our guy,” Small said. “We rely on him to make plays that not everybody can make. He’s a fantastic setter, and he has been such a great asset to have on the team.”
Vellenga enjoys the sets he gets from Fiore.
“He hits and sets and does everything on the court,” Vellenga said of Fiore. “He’s a big playmaker on the team. He’s huge. I don’t know where we would be without him.”
Small, who was a student at Lewis and an assistant freshman boys volleyball coach at Marist in 2011 when the Knights last won a conference title, is having fun in his first year at the helm.
“I definitely knew we had talent coming in,” he said. “It was something that I hoped we could put it together and everyone would jell. That’s been the case.
“We have a really good group of guys this year. There are really good friendships on the team. They care for each other. It’s been a really fun ride.”
The 6-foor 1 Fiore pointed out that it’s early in the process for recruiting, but his college wish list is for a school in California, where the weather is warmer than the Midwest.
His love for the sport continues to grow because of the relationships he has made over the years.
“I played baseball and basketball growing up and volleyball is very different,” Fiore said. “I connect with my teammates a lot more. Every single guy on this team is someone I can hang out with.
“I feel like I have a special bond with the players outside of volleyball.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.