Lincoln-Way East’s Madan Sundaram started to play baseball when he was 4.
Sundaram was coached by his mother, Lisa, then played travel ball and loved the sport. But he was cut as a freshman in high school.
“I was crushed,” he said. “I got home and went in my room and I was sulking. I was so sad.”
Two or three days later, Sundaram was contacted by coach Kris Fiore to try out for the Griffins’ storied boys volleyball program.
“At that time, I’d never touched a volleyball in my entire life,” Sundaram said. “But I said, ‘I’m in.’’’
He has developed into what Fiore calls “one of the best liberos in the state.”
On Saturday, Sundaram was named to the all-tournament team of the 33rd annual Lincoln-Way East Invitational as the Griffins finished second in the 24-team event. Glenbard West knocked off Lincoln-Way East 24-26, 25-8, 25-20 in the championship match.
Matthew Muehlnickel led the Griffins (19-3) with seven kills and seven digs, while Carter Geiger contributed seven kills and Joey Abbeduto added five. Sundaram chipped in with three digs, Dylan Nanney tallied 13 assists and Will Hubatch had 11 assists.
Back in 2022, Fiore was intrigued when Sundaram was out of the baseball picture.
“My son (Evan) played baseball with his brother,” Fiore said of Sundaram. “When I found out he didn’t make the baseball team, I hunted him down because he was a good athlete.
“He’s been a great player, so it worked out well.”
Brother Rice (20-5) finished fourth after dropping a 26-16, 14-25, 15-6 semifinal decision to the Griffins and a 25-21, 25-19 decision to Downers Grove North.
Sundaram, Lincoln-Way West’s Andrew Flores, Lincoln-Way Central’s Dylan Brannigan, Brother Rice’s Oliver McNichols and Lockport’s Ryan Dziadkowiec also made the 18-player all-tournament team.
Defending champion Marist did not enter the tournament but sent its JV team. The young RedHawks raised a few eyebrows winning the Bronze Division, beating the varsity teams of Wheaton St. Francis, Hinsdale Central and Yorkville on Saturday.
Still, the weekend spotlight shined on Sundaram. And even though he never picked up a volleyball before entering Lincoln-Way East, he has worked at his craft.
“If you have those two skills of being willing to work and being athletic, volleyball is a game you can pick up and evolve quickly,” Fiore said. “And he has done that.”
Sundaram looked at the sport as a second chance in his athletic career.
“I was so grateful for the opportunity that I tried my butt off every single practice,” Sundaram said. “No matter how I felt or what day of the week it was or what happened the day before, I always tried to be the best that I could be.
“I tried to treat everything like it was the state championship.”
The Griffins have developed state championship aspirations. The first week of the season, they beat Glenbard West 26-24, 20-25, 25-21 in Glen Ellyn.
After rallying from a 20-15 deficit in the first game Saturday, Lincoln-Way East got destroyed in the second game but played the Hilltoppers (21-3) tight in the finale.
Starting right-side hitter Grant Urban, who also plays football, missed the tournament as he was involved in a national kicking competition in Las Vegas.
Sundaram said that he wrestled with the choice of playing sanctioned volleyball in college or going the club route as Illinois and he chose the latter.
“I had a couple of phone calls and a lot of emails,” he said. “I’m good at volleyball, but I’m a better student. I can get a better education and a better college experience at a bigger university.
“U of I has been my dream school. Both of my parents went there. I have five U of I jerseys. I love the school.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
