By Connor O’Malley ‘22

Brother Rice held a freshman volleyball tournament that started on April 1, and went through the weekend. The tournament was for the freshman A teams.

Brother Rice’s freshman A team looks like they have some talent even with their lack of height. Rice made it to the championship game against Lyons Township. Both very good teams competed against each other.

Brother Rice had a good game against Lyons. They won a tight game in two sets with scores of 25-23 and 26-24.

“It was a nail biter and the crowd was getting into it,” said John Mikrut.

Brother Rice was in Pool A with Lockport and Oak Lawn. Pool B, C, and D consisted of teams such as Marist, Lincoln Way East, and Lincoln Way West.

The semifinals of the tournament were Brother Rice vs. Lincoln Way West and Marist vs. Lyons Township. Once Lyons and Brother Rice won those games, it was time for them to play.

“I knew we were going to the championship, but I was still super excited,” said Zach Mikrut.

The starting lineup for the freshman A team during the championship was George Escobarete, John Mikrut, Zach Mikrut, Carter Mosel, Paul Baker, Eli Nelson, and the libero was Ryne Collins.

If this team could just grow within the next couple of years, I can see them going far and winning it all during their varsity years. A couple of them should begin seeing opportunities to play in college in the future.

Congratulations to the Brother Rice freshman A team on winning the tournament, and there are hopes for many more.