Joe Kelly: Dupage County boys volleyball captain

The captain of The Daily Herald DuPage County All-Area boys volleyball team this year is senior setter Joe Kelly of Wheaton Warrenville South, a player who would probably be the captain of any team he played for in any sport.

Not only has Kelly overseen two straight state championships for the Tigers from his setter's-eye view of the game, but he's a tireless worker who has constantly improved his skills since joining the varsity as the starting "quarterback" as a sophomore.

Wheaton Warrenville South coach Bill Schreier appreciates the work ethic, the ability, the leadership and the continuity that Kelly has brought to the program the past three years.

"Joe has been consistent," Schreier said. "You know what you get every time out - good sets, hittable balls. He puts the balls in position where the hitters can have success. And he gets the ball to the right hitters. He keeps the defense honest. He sees the big picture and over the years he has put his entire game together."

Schreier admires Kelly's ability to elevate the play of his teammates.

"He gets it about making the plays and getting the job done," Schreier said. "He's worked hard on leadership skills and what it takes to get his points across to his teammates in a tactful way. Couple that with his work ethic and you can see why he's in the position he's in."

As a setter Kelly touches the ball on 80-90 percent of the plays.

"Communication is the key to my job," Kelly said. "I have to know who's playing well and who's not and the best way to utilize each person. I've known a lot of our players four years, so the communications piece is really as good as it gets. Our whole team helps me do my job better."

Coach on the court

Having an established setter has been an important part of the Tigers' successful system. Doug Burchett, who also helped the Tigers to a pair of state titles, was the starting setter for four years.

"The more time you have with your setter, the more you understand each other," Schreier said.

The coach and the setter get to see the game the same way and speak the same language. The setter becomes the extension of the coach out on the court. Both Doug and Joe have a setter's mentality. They're extremely competitive and very disciplined."

Kelly agrees with the coach's assessment of the setter position.

"Being a setter has different responsibilities," he said. "As a hitter, you can worry more about what you're doing as an individual. I'm kind of at the mercy of everyone else. The success I've had is because I've had great hitters."

But Kelly likes the responsibility that goes with the position.

"What I do is in my own hands and I like the freedom to do what I think is best and what will work," Kelly said. "I really appreciate that coach Schreier is open to my ideas. He gives me plenty of options to work with. For the most part I'm out on the court running what I feel works best for each rotation and situation."

As a group, the Tigers have all grown up together so they instinctively know that when things aren't going right that they have to fall back on the basics.

Serious about the game

Kelly, who played many sports growing up but now concentrates on volleyball, sees himself as more business-like than flamboyant.

""I'm kind of cut-and-dry," he said. "Getting it done or not getting it done. Our team is extremely competitive, but I've always been under the impression that I have to do what I need to do. I'm having a lot of fun playing volleyball, but my feeling is if you're not competitive, then why are you playing the game?"

And his favorite thing about the sport is the teamwork that's required for success.

"That sets the sport apart," Kelly said. "You need a good pass to get a good set and you can't get a beautiful kill without a good set. In volleyball your weakness is exposed every time you get on the court. Every aspect has to be finely tuned and if it's not you won't have the success you want."

Kelly will attend St. Louis University in the fall. He'll play club volleyball and help coach the women's team with an eye toward going into coaching.

The Tigers are still on track for their third straight state championship, beginning play in the state tournament at Hoffman Estates High School today.

"Our past three years have been the most satisfying thing you can experience in high school sports at this level," Kelly said. "Just to have the opportunity to go through what we've gone through and accomplished what we've accomplished is amazing. I don't think anyone in sports has had the opportunity that I've had playing in this program."

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>All-Area Teams</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Cook County</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=298406"><B>Softball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298405">Softball captain: Nikki Goranson</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298398"><B>Baseball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298397">Baseball captain: Jon Carlson</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298403"><B>Girls soccer</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298402">Soccer captains: Laura Mayer, Mary Kubiuk</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298401"><B>Boys volleyball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298400">Volleyball captain: Chris Falknor</a></li> </ul> <h2>DuPage County</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=298388"><B>Softball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298392">Softball captain: Hannah Santora</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298388"><B>Baseball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298582">Baseball captain: Jack DeAno</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298391"><B>Girls soccer</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298394">Soccer captain: Leah Fortune</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298390"><B>Boys volleyball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298393">Volleyball captain: Joe Kelly</a></li> </ul> <h2>Fox Valley</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=298676"><B>Softball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298362">Softball captain: Kimberly Pierce</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298660"><B>Baseball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298356">Baseball co-captain: Brian Brauer</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298355">Baseball co-captain: Craig Lipp</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298658"><B>Girls soccer</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298361">Soccer captain: Cori Wronski</a></li> </ul> <h2>Lake County</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=298410"><B>Softball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298408">Softball captain: Olivia Duehr</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298407"><B>Baseball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298396">Baseball captain: Chas Evans</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298404"><B>Girls soccer</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298409">Soccer captain: Courtney Levy</a></li> </ul> <h2>Tri-Cities</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=298385"><B>Softball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298379">Softball captain:Stephanie Becker</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298383"><B>Baseball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298380">Baseball captain: Matt Milroy</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298382"><B>Girls soccer</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298378">Soccer captain: Emily Hinchman</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>