In his first two years at Marist, Christian Teresi played for a pair of varsity teams that had lofty national rankings and high expectations but no sectional championships or state appearances.
So, mere minutes after the junior setter/right-side hitter and the RedHawks won the state championship, Teresi got the chance to take a look at the trophy up close and personal.
And he was hyped up.
“I’ve wanted this freshman year and sophomore year,” Teresi said. “It was so sad when we lost those years. But winning this year … I’m actually so happy about it.”
Teresi was itching to get that final kill on June 1 in a 25-21, 28-26 victory over York at Hoffman Estates, helping Marist win its first state championship since 2018.
He definitely got it.
“I just wanted them to set me the ball,” Teresi said afterward. “I don’t even know what to say. I’m just so excited.”
Teresi, who repeats as the Daily Southtown Boys Volleyball Player of the Year, has had RedHawks fans excited for three years. He was primarily a setter as a freshman, developed into a strong hitter as a sophomore and was an even stronger hitter this spring.
Marist’s Christian Teresi (2) takes his approach against York during the first game of the state championship match in Hoffman Estates on Saturday, June 1, 2024. (Brian O’Mahoney / Daily Southtown)
The 6-foot-4 Teresi finished with 327 kills, 575 assists, 174 digs, 68 blocks and 65 aces. The Ohio State recruit received tons of postseason accolades, including being named the East Suburban Catholic Conference’s player of the year for a third straight season.
Teresi’s versatility has already impressed his teammates and coach Jordan Vidovic.
He also received notice from his opponents. After Marist’s 25-17, 25-15 state quarterfinal win over Public League power Payton, Graham Miller and Francis Richmond raved about the Marist star.
“Seeing that kid swing and seeing someone who swings like that who sets so well is just something you don’t usually see,” Miller said of Teresi. “We had some good blocks against him, but just how high he can get and how he can hit, it’s hard to slow him down. He moves around, and you have to make sure you know where he is at.”
“I was pretty impressed he did so well because what he does is so very, very, very hard,” Richmond said.
Later, Teresi tallied nine kills, 12 assists, four digs and a solo block in the win over York.
York coach Ken Dowdy knew the Dukes were going to have their hands full with Teresi.
“He does everything,” Dowdy said of Teresi. “You are not going to shut him down completely. He’s going to get his kills. You have to accept that. You just can’t get the other players go off.”
Marist’s Christian Teresi (2) connects against York during the first game of the state championship match in Hoffman Estates on Saturday, June 1, 2024. (Brian O’Mahoney / Daily Southtown)
While Teresi’s power continues to cause jaws to drop, his serving keeps getting more effective as well. If he’s not getting aces, he’s causing havoc with the opponents’ serve receive.
Vidovic never put a speed gun to Teresi’s serves but guessed they are in the range of 60-70 mph.
“It’s college level,” Vidovic said. “At its max out, it’s by far the most velocity we’ve ever had here, without any question. (Teammate Nathen) Toth can give him a run for his money sometimes, but Christian’s serves are the hardest.
“If you had a stopwatch, the amount of time it leaves his hand to the time it would get to a passer … there is zero comparison.”
Teresi said he started to jump serve at age 6. His older brother, Colin, played in club tournaments and Christian tagged along. He and his father, Marty, put some of the down time to good use.
“I remember going to my brother’s tournament at Adversity and they had these badminton nets that were my height,” Christian said. “My dad would always toss the ball to me.
“I would hit over it. That’s how I learned my jump serve.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
