By Jeff Vorva
Staff Writer
Between daughters, nieces and the other players he has coached, Troy Grevengoed enjoyed an elite season.
The Chicago Christian girls volleyball coach took the Knights to Sandwich on Nov. 3 for play in the Class 2A supersectional – basically the IHSA’s version of the Elite Eight – where the team dropped a 25-9, 25-21 decision to Rock Falls.
His daughters, freshman Quinn and junior Chase are on the team along with his niece, senior setter Aydee Moes.
But that wasn’t all.
The coach has another niece, Ava Gravengoed, who played for Joliet West’s program which also made the supersectional.
West was seeking its first trip to state in program history but fell short to Willowbrook, 25-18, 25-15, in the Class 4A Bolingbrook Supersectional to finish 36-4.
Ava, a senior recruit heading to Northern Illinois, led the Tigers with 10 kills in the match and although the team didn’t make it to state, it set a school record with 36 wins to go with just four losses.
“It’s super cool to watch and it’s enjoyable to see Ava take the lead over there and do her thing the last few years,” Troy said. “Now with my junior and freshman paired up, they are making a name for us … a lot bigger names than the two dads ever did.
“They made quite a splash in the volleyball world and people are starting to know the name and that’s been neat to watch.”
Troy’s brother, Chad, is Ava’s father. The brothers grew up basketball players at Chicago Christian and took up playijg club volleyball while at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights.
“We learned volleyball as adults and fell in love with it and have passed it on to our girls,” Troy said.
Troy Grevengoed, who is also the boys volleyball coach at Richards, is in his second year at the helm for the Knights.
Chicago Christian had just four seniors – Kayla Jager, Moes, Nikki Swiney and Ashley Hinshaw — on the 12-player roster, so the future is bright for possibly breaking through and making it to the state tournament.
“It’s ending how I wanted it to end,” he said of the season. “I knew we would take our licks early on and there was really a big learning curve.
“We started a freshman and two sophomores. And we gave the reins to a setter who has not set at that level and she missed the first month with appendicitis and other players filled that role.”
The Knights were 4-5 after nine matches this season.
“It put us in an uphill battle and climbing out of a hole, but we turned the corner,” Troy Grevengoed said.
Troy has had two other daughters go through the Chicago Christian program. Logan is a redshirt freshman outside/middle hitter for Western Kentucky and was recently named a Conference USA Player of the Week. Delanie is a freshman right side hitter at Appalachian State who had 164 kills in her first 24 matches.
There are more on the way.
Twins Reese and Cole are in sixth grade. Reese could be a setter in the future for Chicago Christian and Cole is eyeing baseball and soccer.
In Joliet, Ava’s sister, Lexi, is an eighth grader who could be heading to Joliet West.
Appreciate the love,
I have a son Luke that is a varsity player as a soph at a top 20 in the state school! In basketball!