Homewood-Flossmoor boys volleyball lost seven seniors to graduation last spring. That would devastate a lot of programs, including the Vikings not that long ago.

But H-F believes it’s a better program now, capable of consistency even in the face of that level of turnover.

“I think we’ve gotten to a point now where we don’t have to rebuild, anymore. We kind of reload,” coach Mark Ciesielski said. “We had some really good sophomores last year that are ready to step in as juniors this year. We’re playing another sophomore this year, as well.”

The Vikings’ longship continues to row. 

H-F tallied at least 20 wins in each of the last four seasons. The Vikings lost in the regional final a year ago, finishing 28-9 overall and 5-3 in the SouthWest Suburban Conference. They opened the 2025 season with 13 consecutive wins. 

The program is established and stable. 

“My freshman year, there wasn’t a lot of kids at tryouts. Now you see a lot more kids in club and the word has spread,” junior Surendran Heyward said. “As more kids try out, the ceiling gets higher and you have to be better.”

Heyward is the big hitter who will be circled on every opponent’s scouting report. He was an AAU All-American during the club season.

“That excites me,” he said. “That kind of stuff gets me into the game, when I know people are building their game plans around me. That excites me a lot. It’s just the competitive edge I have.” 

Practices have been intense, Heyward said, with trash-talking and everyone trying to win every rep. He thinks it’s making everyone better.

As an upperclassman, Heyward wants to lead in that sort of environment.

“He’s a great player. He’ll be our go-to. We’re not hiding that,” Ciesielski said. “I think we’ve got enough pieces in place, though, that it’s not going to have to be all Surendran. I really think we’ve got a couple other guys who are going to surprise some people this year.”

Some of the major contributors outside of Heyward will be juniors Josiah Ellis, Josh Myers, Donald Klemick and Anthony DeNeal and sophomore Robert Newman. All are club players, on the court all year. 

To adjust to that personnel, the Vikings will start the year with a 6-2 rotation this season. It may change but the aim is to play to the team’s strengths.

“We’re trying to set up for next year, too. If you run a 5-1 and you’re not getting another right side game experience, next year that could hurt us,” Heyward said. “We’re working with another setter, getting them game reps and experience. I think that’ll be good.” 

The schedule, like most sports at H-F, is strong. The Vikings will play in Brother Rice’s Smack Attack tournament with some of the best teams in the country. They’ll play at Crown Point in Indiana and host another team from across the state line in Merrillville.

That goes along with an already daunting conference slate.

“When you get into the (postseason) and you’ve got to beat Marist and (Lincoln-Way) East in our regional and you’ve got to beat those teams to move on, we’ve got to start doing something to get ready for those teams,” Ciesielski said. “This schedule can do that.”