Boys volleyball: Slesers sparks Libertyville into state quarterfinals

Lukas Slesers went into the bleachers Tuesday night.

Shins first.

Libertyville parents scattered. Bleachers rattled. A volleyball that looked doomed stayed alive. And moments later, after Slesers returned to the court at New Trier, the Wildcats senior outside hitter hammered a kill that gave Libertyville a 21-18 lead in the second set.

Worth it?

“Worth it,” Slesers said.

Libertyville’s 26-24, 25-19 victory over Loyola Academy in Winnetka had muscle, balance and one unforgettable rescue mission. The Wildcats (31-3) got 7 kills and 7 blocks from 6-foot-10 Ball State commit Nate Knight, 7 kills and 7 digs from Slesers, and steady work from a deep cast to earn a state quarterfinal berth against Wheaton North at 11:30 a.m. Friday at Bolingbrook.

“We have so many weapons,” Libertyville coach Jenny Smith said. “I wouldn’t want to scout us.”

Loyola Academy (28-12) made Libertyville work for everything, especially after surviving 2 set points in the first set. The Ramblers trailed 24-22 and 24-23 before Libertyville finally closed out the opener 26-24.

The second set stayed tight, too. After LA took its first lead of the night at 3-2, neither team led by more than 2 points for much of the set.

Then came Slesers.

Near the end of a long rally, he barreled into the side bleachers to extend the point, bumping into a few Libertyville parents and banging his legs on the seats.

“Four, maybe five,” Smith said of the fans who had to scatter or lean back. “Lukas … he’s fantastic. Our ‘Mr. Consistency.’”

Slesers laughed later and said he probably should have apologized.

No time.

The Wildcats were too busy finishing.

After Slesers’ kill made it 21-18, Libertyville won 4 of the final 5 points. Knight delivered a kill and a block to notch consecutive points — at 22-18 and 23-18 — and help send the Wildcats to their first Elite 8 berth since 2022, when Smith guided the program to a fourth-place finish.

“Nate Knight’s blocks,” Slesers said of what he’ll remember. “Dominant. He’s so good at timing and positioning.”

Braden Moss and Connor Desiron added 6 kills apiece for Libertyville, Andrew Hodge had 25 assists, and UC-Irvine commit Jackson Kern finished with a match-high 10 digs and 1 ace.

Loyola senior Drew Bevan had 8 kills, junior Charlie Trapp added 5, sophomore libero Todd Pham had 8 digs, and senior setter Aldis Kins — bound for George Mason — totaled 18 assists. The Ramblers also had to absorb a rough early blow when senior standout Luke Malles suffered a severe ankle injury near the end of the eighth point.

The 6-3 hitter did not return to action.

“Luke meant everything to our team, especially emotionally,” Loyola coach Lionel Ebeling said.

Ebeling’s squad, which finished 16-21 last season and lost in a regional semifinal, reached a sectional final for the second time in 3 seasons. LA placed fourth at state in 2024.

“Libertyville,” Ebeling said Tuesday night, “showed calm, composure and ball control.”

And in the biggest moment Tuesday night, one Wildcat showed no concern for his shins.

Or the bleachers.

He must have still been hurting afterward.

Slesers grinned anyway.

Libertyville was headed to the Elite 8.