Boys volleyball: O'Toole captains Northwest all-area ateam

Perhaps Barrington boys volleyball coach Rob Ridenour may have put it best:

"Over the last five weeks of this season," said Ridenour, "Michael O'Toole was the best volleyball player in the state."

That about sums up the consistent, relentless, stellar all-around game of O'Toole, a Broncos senior outside hitter who took his play to an elite level to finish out his prep career.

Always a standout, O'Toole paced a Barrington charge in 2018 that went all the way to the state tournament, and the senior said that it helped put to rest the myth that this "wouldn't be Barrington's year."

Despite boasting some first-tier talent, some felt that the Broncos were a bit too young and inexperienced to make the run that they did.

But Barrington proved all the doubters wrong by defeating top-seeded Libertyville in a sectional final to qualify for the state tourney, and the play of O'Toole was one of the big reasons why.

Following up a breakout 2017 season where he earned all-area status by hitting 199 kills and earning 185 digs, O'Toole made another big jump in 2018.

The senior finished this year with an amazing 409 kills, 211 digs, 41 aces and 31 blocks, earning Mid-Suburban West player of the year honors and being awarded the captaincy of the Daily Herald's Northwest all-area team.

The Broncos won the Mid-Suburban League championship as well the last two campaigns.

"He is an elite server, receiver, defender and attacker," said Ridenour. "More than anything, the coaching staff is going to miss his humble approach to volleyball and to life."

O'Toole and his teammates came up big in the last couple of months of the season, which culminated in a trip to the Elite Eight.

And although they fell in the quarterfinal match to three-time defending state champion Glenbard West, the season was still a hugely successful one.

"We started off the year pretty well," said O'Toole, "but there was a point where we turned the corner by bringing our defensive intensity to every game. That defense was what was responsible for our success.

"Everyone on the team played so well. (At state), I think the experience of Glenbard West showed, and we were a little taken aback. But on the whole being at the state tournament was a great experience and a lot of fun, especially playing in front of the huge crowds."

O'Toole said that when he was younger he played "all the usual sports," then started to focus on volleyball after freshman year tryouts.

"What I love about the sport is that it's so competitive and every point matters," said O'Toole.

The progression soon followed, with the multi-talented athlete improving on the court year after year. It certainly didn't hurt that he grew from about 5-foot-8 as a frosh to his current height of 6-6.

"There are so many inspiring stories about Mike," said Ridenour, "from how he was an undersized outside on junior varsity to how he mentors the younger players. I still don't think he realizes how good he is, which is perhaps his best trait. He is always hungry to get better."

O'Toole, who has always been interested in math and science, will be going on now to college to study chemical engineering, and although he definitely appreciates all the success he has achieved on the volleyball court, and the leadership role on the team he took on as a senior, he puts an even higher value on the bonds he has made with his comrades.

"I can't say enough about my teammates," said O'Toole, "and all of the love and support they gave to me. I'm going to come back next year to support the team and I'm going to keep in touch with all of them. I've formed friendships which will last a lifetime and that's really cool. It's been a great ride that I'll never forget."

Nor will Ridenour, who was blessed to have the dynamic all-around player on his varsity squad the last two years.

"There were so many times that our coaching staff would just smile and shake our heads in amazement watching him play," said Ridenour. "He's great and we're going to miss him."