Tori Vlcek had dreams of playing on varsity as a sophomore for Oswego East, but coach Dina Beamon was way ahead of her.
The outside hitter/right-side hitter caught Beamon’s eye last year on the lower levels. Despite returning a veteran roster, Beamon knew there would be a place this season for Vlcek.
“I watch these kids all the time,” Beamon said. “Last year, I was looking, I was watching and I was like, ‘OK, I think that could be a little piece that we’re missing to make us better.’”
Vlcek wasted little time validating her coach’s choice Wednesday night.
She had all four of her kills in the first game as the Wolves built an eight-point lead and never looked back in a 25-15, 25-23 nonconference win over Waubonsie Valley in their season opener.
Alison Coy and Gia Sylvestre also had four kills apiece for Oswego East (1-0). Mia Stanley served eight aces. Addilyn Candrian tallied four kills to lead Waubonsie (0-2). Zoe Kraslen added three.
Vlcek is the lone underclassman on a team that returns seven varsity players, including four starters. Vlcek was ready to slide right into the lineup, however.
“Last season, I got called up toward the end to varsity, and this year, I was just really hoping that I would start,” Vlcek said. “That was my goal.
“I’m really excited to go up to varsity this year. It’s a great group of girls, so I’m ready to keep working with them.”
Oswego East’s Tori Vlcek (8) reacts to her teammates after a point against Waubonsie Valley during a nonconference match in Oswego on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. (Jeremy Toney / The Beacon-News)
Coy and Stanley are among the returning starters who are up front with Vlcek. As much as she looked up to Cailyn Smiley as a young player, Stanley is trying to pay that leadership forward.
“She’s a great player,” Stanley said of Vlcek. “She always comes in with a great attitude, works super hard. Her and I have similar mindsets, so we’ve been able to go back-and-forth with each other.
“I think that’s helped both of us a lot.”
Vlcek, who said having veterans with her on the front line has helped ease her into her varsity career, credited Stanley with a lot of that guidance.
“Mia understands me completely,” Vlcek said. “Our minds just always sync up. She’s always there to calm me down if I ever get nervous.
“I used to feel pressure, but I feel like it just mellows out when you fit with the team and they all connect with you. They all bring me up.”
Oswego East’s Lalia Mossey (5) serves the ball against Waubonsie Valley during a nonconference match in Oswego on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. (Jeremy Toney / The Beacon-News)
Oswego East raced out to a 14-8 lead Wednesday on the strength of Vlcek’s four kills and four of Stanley’s aces, which came on consecutive serves.
Another fast start in the second game stalled, but the Warriors could not tie things up or take the lead and the Wolves outlasted them for the sweep.
“I’ve been working with them the last three years, some of them the last two, so this is really what I expected,” Beamon said. “I’m not saying that to be cocky or anything, but we have been trying to manifest working hard for what we want.
“I told them to just go get it and they did.”
Oswego East’s Riley Trefny (4) makes a defensive play against Waubonsie Valley during a nonconference match in Oswego on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. (Jeremy Toney / The Beacon-News)
Stanley was impressed that Vlcek came to the varsity with confidence and unafraid to speak up after a successful summer with Sports Performance. And that will only help the team.
“She’s a lot younger than us but she also has experience,” Stanley said of Vlcek. “She’s played on high-level volleyball teams, so she brings a lot of great ideas.”
The fact that Vlcek was able to come in and contribute immediately also was a relief to Beamon.
“I was anxious to see how she would do with the pressure,” Beamon said. “She’s shown in practice that she’s not intimidated. She’s hungry. I knew she would be an asset to our program.
“She just wants it and she was ready to play.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
