Communication is key.
Like most things, volleyball gets better when teammates talk to each other. Homewood-Flossmoor had been struggling with that, but over the last few weeks, the Vikings became a chatty group.
“We just started taking it more seriously, demanded more out of everybody,” junior Surendran Heyward said. “It was a big problem, how we talked to each other and that obviously affected how we played together.”
The adjustment was evident in a 20-25, 25-20, 25-18 win over Stagg May 5. Heyward and the Vikings were in control for most of the last two sets, notching wins in five of the last six matches.
“The last two weeks, the biggest thing we’ve talked about and have been stressing is communication,” coach Mark Ciesielski said. “It was definitely noticeable in game two and three tonight. We played with confidence and that enthusiasm that we haven’t played with in a while.”
The Chargers started the night hot. H-F led only briefly during the first set. The Vikings flipped the script in the next two, though, and countered every Stagg punch.
They led by as many as nine in a third game that was never in doubt.
“A team was down and we just stayed on them. We didn’t let up,” Ciesielski said. “If they sided out, we sided out. We didn’t let them get any momentum and that affects a high school kid. It really showed tonight.”
Heyward was huge all night, but especially in those last two sets. He served during a key 6-0 run in the final game that seemed to knock the wind out of the Chargers.
“He has stepped up all year when we needed him and we certainly needed him tonight,” Ciesielski said. “He did a really good job of seeing the court. Half of his kills were short tips and others high swings. He’s just a smart player and he showed why he’s who he is.”
Heyward finished with 15 kills and three blocks. That’s what’s expected from him. Maybe more importantly, though, he also had 11 digs.
“I just try to be what I can for the team but I think defensively, I stepped up more today,” he said. “I was able to be loud and communicate in the back row. I just have to be a role player out there and give whatever the night needs.”
The win was the first in the SouthWest Suburban Conference for the Vikings (16-8, 1-2). It leads them into another tough stretch, starting with Lincoln-Way Central and then the Prospect Quad with Barlett and St. Viator.
“They don’t understand how big of a win this was, not just for conference standings but for momentum going into the rest of this week, going into the conference season,” Ciesielski said. “It was huge.”
