The numbers tell a story for St. Laurence’s Thomas Suchecki, but he’s not exactly sure what it is.
The senior libero averaged more than six digs per game last season and set a school record with 30 digs in a two-game match against Mount Carmel.
This spring, he’s averaging close to five digs per game for the Vikings, who won seven of their first 10 matches and could be heading toward a historic season.
What’s the secret to his success?
“To be honest, I can’t tell you,” he said.
His coach can.
Ellen Yopchick knows a thing or two about liberos. The Mother McAuley graduate played that position for DePaul and once had a McGrath Arena record with 34 digs in a 2004 match against Tulane.
“He anchors our serve receive and he’s involved in every play,” Yopchick said of Suchecki. “The secret is that he is a stellar multisport athlete. He’s an excellent soccer player.
“He really uses his foot speed, his discipline and competitiveness. He really gets after it. He has great vision. Even though he is a little undersized, he can cover a lot of the court.”
The 5-foot-7 Suchecki has been on varsity since his freshman year when Yopchick converted him from being a setter to a libero.
He confirmed how much he appreciates having her expertise at his disposal.
“I love being coached by coach ‘Yop,'” he said. “She is incredible. She also played libero in college and has a lot of knowledge for what she is doing.”
Suchecki, who played both soccer and golf in the fall for St. Laurence, has committed to Benedictine for soccer.
He’s hoping to end his high school career on a high note by leading the Vikings to their first winning season in program history.
To him, the process of a successful play in the back row sounded pretty easy as he described his job description.
“My job is to keep the ball up and get the ball to my setter,” he said. “I have to make sure the setter has a good set for our outsides and middles and right sides so they can hit the ball and score the point.”
Back on the bench: Paul Ickes, who was the first boys volleyball coach in the state to win 500 matches when he guided Brother Rice, is now Providence’s freshman coach.
Ickes won 559 matches for the Crusaders from 1993 to 2014 before leaving to become the athletic director at St. Ignatius. He left there in 2019 and came to Providence, but the 2020 season was canceled due to the pandemic.
He did get to coach an abbreviated season in 2021. And he’s back for a full season this spring.
“With his background, I know the freshmen are not only getting the volleyball knowledge but also the program building and character needed to set a strong foundation moving forward,” Providence coach Lee Rucinski said. “He has been a great addition.”
Midwest clash: There’s plenty of local talent at the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Carthage, Dominican and North Central College will be mixing it up with Mount Union during a regional round starting Friday in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Top-seeded Carthage features setter Gene McNulty (Marist) and middle hitter Zach Bulthuis (Chicago Christian).
Second-seeded Dominican touts four Lincoln-Way East graduates — setter Owen Morrow, libero Danny Pacini, right-side hitter Jason Kougan and Jason’s freshman brother, George, a middle. Setter Kade Van Assen (Brother Rice) also is on the team.
Third-seeded North Central College can call upon former Lincoln-Way West standout Ben Pluskota as an outside.
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.