ASTON, PA – The last time Konrad Kiszka played on a collegiate court, he and his La Salle teammates fell to Roman Catholic in the Philadelphia Catholic League boys’ basketball championship game at the Palestra. Having already committed to play basketball at Princeton next year, the senior believed that was the last time he would be in a college gym before arriving on the Ivy League school campus in the summer.
During the Explorers run to the state semifinals, Kiszka only played in high school gyms and even if La Salle had advanced to the PIAA Class 6A title game, the GIANT Center in Hershey was not a college court itself. Instead of ending his athletic career for La Salle in March, he turned to another court: the volleyball court. Having never played competitively in his life, the 6-7 athlete was able to put his agility and leaping ability on display for a few more months.
2019 PCL Volleyball Championship Highlights - by Rich Flanagan:
Explorers head coach James Eisele saw the potential Kiszka had and was pleased when he came over following the basketball’s team run in the state playoffs.
“I think during the basketball season he discovered a newfound confidence,” Eisele said. “Sometimes, our sport for basketball players gives them a time to relax but they’re such competitors and they have that sort of intangible inside of them. We focused on him developing his hit and he ended up developing quite well in the front row.”
Not only did Kiszka fit right into the rotation but he was named First Team All-Catholic as an outside hitter in his first season for the three-time defending Philadelphia Catholic League champion. Playing alongside PCL MVP Chris Meltzer and fellow First Team All-Catholic selection Brandon Curran, he flourished and was able to play one more contest on a college court with a league title on the line.
Kiszka had 11 kills and three blocks and senior middle hitter Patrick Mraz added nine kills and five blocks as La Salle cruised to a 3-0 victory over Lansdale Catholic to claim its fourth consecutive Philadelphia Catholic League championship at Neumann University. Meltzer had 41 assists, 16 digs and five kills while Curran added 15 digs and two assists for the Explorers, who won their fifth league title in six seasons.
After not being able to lift that championship plaque during the basketball season, Kiszka was finally able to raise it in the air and bask in the euphoria of a league crown. He was also reminded of how he had discovered the game and what the ultimate goal of joining the team was.
“I had played on the beach before with my dad and I really wanted to win a PCL title,” Kiszka said. “I saw the guys and I thought we had a really good chance.”
Lansdale Catholic (8-2 Philadelphia Catholic League), playing in the league title match for the first time since 2016, hadn’t dropped a set since its regular-season finale against St. Joe’s Prep but it was tested early and often.
Gavin Duffner began the first game with an ace and Kevin Kelly had a pair of kills but the Explorers pulled away midway through. Mraz’s second kill gave the Explorers (20-4, 11-0) a 12-11 lead and they never trailed in that first game after. Luke Baldini (nine kills, four blocks) drove home a spike then Kiszka got his first of the match on the ensuing possession and La Salle took the first game, 25-16.
(Left to Right) La Salle seniors Konrad Kiszka & Patrick Mraz reflect on winning the Explorer's 4th straight title:
Head coach James Eisele was extremely proud of his team's effort all season & notes the addition of Kiszka aided in his lineup:
It was tremendous run for first-year head coach Julie Stocklos, who is also the girls volleyball coach. The former Lock Haven player who coached at Villa Joseph Marie and Council Rock South before taking over the Crusaders girls program last spring, stressed how her team tried to take some of what they learned in their 3-0 regular-season loss to the Explorers in preparation for the title match.
“You watch and learn from what they do,” Stocklos said. “It’s just putting it all together and being one step ahead.”
The La Salle College High School Explorer's pose center court with the PCL plaque after winning their 4th straight title at Neumann University - PSD Photo by Rich Flanagan
The second game belonged to Kiszka. He had four straight kills to begin and he finished with six in the set, the last of which gave La Salle a 13-11 advantage. Baldini had a kill and then a block before an ace from Luke Berish (seven kills) and a kill from Jaiden Johnson (eight kills) put the Explorers in the driver seat with a 25-14 win in the second.
Kiszka was looking for that next opportunity to win a league championship. Eisele didn’t seek him out but instead Kiszka reached out after the basketball season had ended to see where he could help.
“I spoke with Coach Eisele earlier in the year,” Kiszka said. “He said I’d be welcomed by the team and I really was. These guys are now my brothers, along with the basketball team. I’m really excited about this win.”
Eisele said Kiszka had a similar playing style to Brett Werner, a member of two PCL boys soccer title teams and now a backup goalkeeper for La Salle University men’s team. Werner had 14 kills in last year’s championship match and earned Third Team All-Catholic is his lone year on the volleyball court.
It was only two months ago that Kiszka began learning how to spike the ball and set up his teammates but he had a seamless transition into a deep and talented group.
“He’s been playing volleyball for six weeks,” Eisele said. “He’s done such an exceptional job figuring it all out, motivating this team and bringing that leadership from basketball over here.”
Kiszka had a kill early on in the third game to give his team a 3-1 lead then Mraz had one of his own to put the advantage at 5-3. Baldini and Mraz had three kills apiece in the last 12 points to help the Explorers put the finishing touches on a dominant league title performance with a 25-21 win.
The final kill of the match came from none other than the player who was a First Team All-Catholic in both basketball and volleyball. With the victory, Kiszka was able to walk off a college court for the last time and this trek off the hardwood included a championship plaque.