Boys volleyball: A leader in every sense of the word

Paulie Bischoff is the Captain of The Daily Herald DuPage County All-Area boys volleyball team for the second straight year.

And that's fitting because he was the best player on the best team, leading Glenbard West to its second straight state championship. This year the Hilltoppers won all 42 matches and no opponent pushed them to a third set.

When Hilltoppers coach Christine Giunta-Mayer sings the praises of her 6-foot-5 senior captain and setter, she dwells as much on his court presence, mental game and character as she does on the skills which make him one of the top high school volleyball players in the nation.

"It goes without saying that Paulie has great talent and technique," Giunta-Mayer said. "But what separates him from other players is the mental part of his game and his demeanor. He's a perfectionist, he doesn't get rattled in tough situations and his teammates have complete trust in him. He's been MVP of every tournament this year, and he's a great student. He made academic all-conference."

Bischoff's development as a player was no accident. He recognized the aspects of his game that needed improvement and then worked on them with determination.

"All of the senior leaders before me, starting with Alec Garwood, who was our team's setter when I was younger, were powerful leaders," Bischoff said. "They kept the communication up on the court and showed the underclassmen what needed to be done.

"They created so many weekly goals, like winning a big match or a big tournament, and rewarded smart play with a new jersey or new shoes. When Kyler (Kotsakis), Will (Church) and I became seniors we tried to do the same thing."

The main thing he was taught by last year's seniors was how to keep the mental focus that led to this year's winning season, especially the concentration that was needed to succeed in the high-profile final weekend of the state tournament.

"Last year I tried to lead with actions," Bischoff said. "But this season I was forced to be more vocal with our underclassmen, a talented group who had a lot to do with this year's title. That was something that didn't come naturally to me. But this year I developed more confidence as a person. People were listening to what I had to say and that was huge."

Giunta-Mayer believes that Bischoff provided security for his teammates the past two years.

"The other players knew that it was tough for the opposition to get into Paulie's head," Giunta-Mayer said. "They knew that if any part of the game was going south for us, they could look to him to figure out what to do. He just finds a way to fix things. Paulie has an aura about him and it's contagious."

Bischoff credits the volleyball culture at Glenbard West for his ability to keep everything together.

"Being calm and mentally prepared in high-pressure situations is the way things are done here," Bischoff said. "It was hard for me my sophomore year, but I watched Garwood and he was always calm. I learned from that and tried to present that quality to the guys the past two years. The important thing is to stay in the moment. Don't worry about the crowd, the situations, the sidelines. It's all about the six guys on the court. Forget the last error and focus on the next play. Kyler and Will are both great at that."

Another role that Bischoff has taken on this year is mentoring junior Sean Farmer, a natural setter in club ball who has worked this year mostly as a defensive specialist for the Hilltoppers. Farmer is in line to take over the setter position next year.

"I have learned so much from Paul on the court this year," Farmer said. "He's just the heart of the team."

Farmer agrees that it's Bischoff's sense of composure that defines his game.

"The way he conducts himself on the court is good for the team and has helped me grow as a person and as a setter," Farmer said. "He's super consistent. We always know he's there and he'll win so many points other setters won't get, saving balls over the net, making the perfect set, getting hitters one-on-one blocks, and getting kills of his own by smashing the ball or dumping it back over the net."

But it's that sense of composure and the consistency that have been the main lessons Farmer's learned from his senior teammate.

"He never gets frustrated," Farmer said. "He stays confident in all circumstances. We separated ourselves from the opposition because Paulie and the other seniors maintained their consistent play through 42 matches."

Farmer said that Bischoff has become a great friend and role model both on and off the court.

"He's a good person to talk to about problems in school," Farmer said. "There were times when I sent him a quick text asking for his advice or help on something and he's always right there for me."

Next year it's Farmer's turn to take over as the Hilltoppers quarterback.

"I've been in a leadership role in club, but Paul has helped me prepare for next year," Farmer said. "I'm excited to take on more responsibilities. We've got a great class of guys coming back as seniors. And I'm confident that I can step up and try to fill his shoes."

Bischoff also believes the Hilltoppers can continue their success with Farmer at the helm and with support from the likes of Zac Norvid, Matt Scruggs, Johnny Winkler, Cameron Lilly, Robbie Murphy and Grant Tecson, all of whom played major roles this year.

"We've accomplished a great deal as a team," Bischoff said. "And while I'm really looking forward to the challenges of going to Stanford, a great school and a big volleyball power, it's a bittersweet feeling to leave Glenbard West. Kyler, Will and I have been playing together since the seventh grade. The volleyball guys have been my best friends in high school. Kyler will be playing at Loyola, so I'll see him on the other side of the court next year."

Giunta-Mayer is savoring the feelings that go along with the team's achievements, especially those of her outstanding setter.

"Paulie simply separated himself from the pack in the entire high school volleyball community," she said. "He has a connection with people like nobody I've ever seen."