Lockport Volleyball Wins Sectional, Sets Monday Clash Against Joliet West

Lockport, Ill. (6/11/2026) The Lockport High School volleyball team captured the Class 4A Lockport Sectional championship on Thursday night by defeating Lincoln-Way East 25-19, 25-21. The victory moves the Porters one win away from qualifying for the IHSA State Tournament in Normal. Lockport coach Nick Mraz credited the team’s recent history for their composure during high-pressure moments in the match.

The Porters entered this postseason run with substantial recent experience. They finished in third place at the Class 4A state tournament in both 2024 and 2025. Mraz said that track record provided a foundation of confidence for the squad as they faced a competitive opponent in the sectional final.

Lockport controlled the opening set, establishing a lead after an 8-8 tie. They extended their advantage to 22-15 before closing out the set 25-19. The second set began with Lincoln-Way East gaining the upper hand. The Griffins rallied from an early deficit to tie the score at 8 and took a 14-11 lead. Lockport responded with a run to take a 15-14 lead, setting up a tight finish.

With the score tied at 20, Timosciek recorded a key kill to help Lockport pull ahead 22-20. Kolby Ross of Lincoln-Way East kept the Griffins close with several kills of her own, but the Porters held their serve to close the match. Timosciek led Lockport with nine kills in the game. Brooklyn Chesna and Emma Consigny each recorded five digs, while Kyla Mitchell added two blocks.

Mraz noted that he chose not to call a timeout during a stretch in the second set when Lockport was trailing 20-18. He trusted his players to remain calm and work through the situation without intervention. “I think 100%,” Mraz said when asked whether the team’s previous postseason experience helped. “These girls came out maybe pressing a bit but they settled in quickly and you have to lean on that.”

Timosciek acknowledged feeling nervous during the second set but said securing the first set allowed the team to play more freely. She described the shift in emotion as the match progressed. “I definitely had a lot of nerves, but knowing we had the first set under our belt, it allowed me to play a little more freely,” Timosciek said. “The nerves just turned into empowerment. I knew we just needed to get it done.”

Lincoln-Way East coach Sean Burns said his team struggled with consistency, particularly in serve receive. He noted that passing difficulties made the Griffins’ offense predictable, allowing Lockport to establish a strong defensive presence. Burns reflected on the contributions of his senior class, including Liyah Taylor, Chloe Prainito, Alana Nauden, Klarke Mosby and Morgan Sazama. “I’m going to miss them a lot because they were just such a fun group of girls,” Burns said. “They’ve been leaders for our program, and it’s a special group that’s leaving. Very proud of all of them, all the work they put in, all the leadership they put in.”

Lockport is scheduled to play Joliet West in the Class 4A Rich Township Supersectional at 7 p.m. on Monday. A victory in that matchup will send the Porters to the state tournament.