That didn’t take long.
Grace Cluver graduated from Shepard in 2019.
In 2023, she became the head coach of the Astros boys volleyball team.
In 2026, Culver was named the best coach in the state.
The Illinois Volleyball Coaches Association named the 25-year-old Culver its Boys Coach of the Year. It’s the second year in a row an area coach has taken the honor as Marist’s Jordan Vidovic won it in 2025.
Culver guided the Astros to a school-best 33-4 record even after dropping their first two matches to Lockport and Lane.
“It was definitely a surprise, I was not expecting it at all,” Culver said of the award. “It was definitely a cool experience.”
Before 2025, when the Astros finished 20-15 in Culver’s second season, the last time they had a winning season was 2018, when they posted a 15-14-2 mark.
Culver’s first season was rough as they Astros were 6-24. But it swiftly turned around to a power in 2026.
“It was not an easy process, but I’m so grateful for the boys that I had on the team,” Culver said. “They were very committed. They live, eat and sleep volleyball. It they weren’t at our practice, they were at an open gym somewhere or club practice.
“They would go to matches to watch other teams. These kids love volleyball so much. That’s what they would do in their free time — watch more volleyball.”
She added that this was a group that had potential and she didn’t make it easy on the talented players.
“With this group, I knew we had something special going,” she said. “And I’m definitely the kind of coach who is going to push kids almost to the breaking point every day.
“They would tell me it was hard and I was telling them not to give up. I tried to push them past that mental barrier.”
Volleyball all-staters
The IVCA named its all state teams and the area was represented well.
Brother Rice’s Ben Adamski, Lyons’ Brody Lee-Carcci, Marist’s Michael Forbes and Sandburg’s Easton Donausky were named to the first team.
Argo’s Sebastian Pardol, Lyons’ Brady Schlichter and Marist’s Briggs Corona were second teamers.
Brother Rice’s Oliver McNichols, Marist’s Drew Fiedler and St. Rita’s Michael Pigott were named to the third team.
Brother Rice’s Colin Nye, Chicago Christian’s Luke Hermann and Sam Jager and Evergreen Park’s Michael Bruno were honorable-mention picks.
The IVCA also voted on a state finals all-tournament team, and Marist’s Corona and Nick Mayoski were named to it after the RedHawks finished third.
Fire II wins in Chicago
The Chicago Fire II changed their venue from SeatGeek Stadium to Flames Field in Chicago because of a hip-hop festival at the Bridgeview facility, and on June 14 they earned a 3-1 win over Miami CF II in an MLS NEXT Pro game.
Vitaly Hylut, Robert Turdean and Milan Mapoe scored goals for the Fire (4-5-4), who visit New England at 6 p.m. June 21.