Hutsyn Timosciek made a big name for herself two years ago when she tallied 11 kills in a supersectional win to help get Lockport to the state finals for the first time in 25 years.
Last year, she racked up 356 kills to power the Porters back to state while trying to offset the injury loss of Kyla Mitchell. Both seasons, Lockport took third place in the state in Class 4A.
But as a senior right-side hitter, Timosciek is looking for more this season.
“We definitely want more — that’s the goal every year,” she said. “Sadly, we’ve been falling a little short. But we’re so used to going to state now.
“I feel like we’ve had a taste of it and we want more of it.”
Timosciek continued to provide more Thursday night. The left-handed hitter put away 11 kills to lead the host Porters to a 25-18, 25-22 SouthWest Suburban Conference victory over Sandburg.
The Virginia-bound Mitchell added 10 kills for Lockport (19-4, 4-0), including nine in a tight second game. Milwaukee recruit Natalie Bochantin had 12 assists and Emma Consigny added six digs.
Bella Maras paced Sandburg (7-12, 0-3) with five kills. Ellery Dyra chipped in with three blocks.
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The Porters, meanwhile, are thrilled to have both Timosciek and Mitchell in the lineup at the same time. Last year, Mitchell watched Timosciek from the bench while healing from a leg injury.
Mitchell, who has switched from middle hitter to outside during this season, is glad to have Timosciek on the other side doing some damage.
“She’s a major part of our team,” Mitchell said. “She’s someone we can count on to put the ball away. She has huge power behind her arm and, yeah, she’s definitely a big piece to this team.
“She does a lot for us.”
The 5-foot-11 Timosciek, who is uncommitted, just keeps getting better, according to Lockport coach Nick Mraz.
“During her sophomore year, she was a part of the team, but the match that stands out was the supersectional,” Mraz said of a 23-25, 25-9, 25-22 win over Downers Grove South. “That was huge. It was a big reason we went to state that year.
“We knew she would have to pick up a lot of the slack her junior year and she led the team in kills, and her confidence carried into this year. She wants the ball. She demands the ball.”
Timosciek pointed out that if the Porters can make a third straight appearance in the state finals at CEFCU Arena in Normal, many of the players on the roster will know what to expect.
“Sophomore year, we didn’t know where to go right away,” she said. “Junior year, we knew where to go and what to wear. We didn’t know there were pictures during practice, and junior year, we were able to get ready and look nice.
“We felt more comfortable last year.”
The Timosciek family is also comfortable at state. Her mother, Sherrie, nee Donnells, helped Sandburg’s girls soccer team qualify for the state for the first time in school history in 1991.
Her brothers, Hayden and Hyatt, teamed up as Lockport won the Class 8A state football championship in 2021. Hutsyn then kept it rolling by bringing home two third-place medals.
Even though Sherrie played in high school for Sandburg, there isn’t much trash-talking before the Porters go up against the Eagles.
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“I have a lot of friends on Sandburg, so I trash-talked with them before the game,” she said. “But with my mom — we’ve been here so long, I don’t think she cares about Sandburg anymore, I’m not going to lie.
“She wants me to win.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.