Boys Volleyball: Ryan Swartz, Glenbard West take third at state, eager about what's ahead

HOFFMAN ESTATES – Glenbard West’s Ryan Swartz spent most of his sophomore season toiling in obscurity.

While the Hilltoppers rolled to a 41-1 record and a third consecutive state championship, Swartz played on the junior varsity team. He wasn’t even listed on the 18-team state roster submitted to the Illinois High School Association.

At most programs, Swartz would’ve been a key player.

“I was willing to wait my time,” Swartz said. “I knew what I wanted and knew I would be ready for my junior season. I definitely thought I was ready for the varsity coming into this season. I worked as hard as I could for this season.”

After playing club volleyball for Sports Performance, Swartz burst onto the scene this year. The junior outside hitter became an integral player in Glenbard West’s rotation, leading the Hilltoppers to a third-place finish at state.

Glenbard West, in its fifth straight state appearance, defeated Barrington in Friday’s quarterfinal 25-12, 25-18 to advance to Saturday’s semifinals.

Neuqua Valley beat the Hilltoppers 24-26, 25-22, 25-20 in a thrilling semifinal match. The Hilltoppers bounced back with a 25-12, 25-22 win over New Trier in the third-place match.

Swartz pounded a key kill to give the Hilltoppers (38-4) a 23-22 lead in Game 3, then served up the final two points. He finished with eight kills on 11 attempts for a .636 hitting percentage against the Trevians. The 6-foot-1 Swartz tallied 25 kills in three state matches to lead the team with 253 kills.

Swartz said he’s talking to a few colleges, but nothing in-depth at this point. He's hoping his breakout season attracts more interest.

“It was really nice to play a big role on the varsity this year,” Swartz said. “We knew it was going to be a tough year coming in with all the juniors and losing so many seniors. We definitely played as a team and have a good group of guys.

“I’m super excited for next year. We have a few spots to fill, but we definitely have some people to fill them. I’m looking forward to being a leader. I’m going to be working more on my passing and on the championship mindset.”

Seven years ago, Glenbard West coach Christine Giunta-Mayer couldn’t contain her excitement while talking about the future of the program following a fourth-place trophy. Now the Hilltoppers are one of the best programs in the state.

Giunta-Meyer said players like Swartz and sophomore Ben Harrington are the key to the program’s sustained success. She said both patiently worked their way through the program.

“Ryan is a firecracker, just an explosive athlete,” she said. “I’m really looking forward to him being a leader. He’s very liked on the team and easy going and has the perfect personality for the sport. He’s probably one of the best athletes on the team.”