Chicago, Ill. - Illinois Tech men's volleyball head coach Mike Oswald doesn't hesitate when asked about the energy in his gym. Practices are loud and competitive, with balls flying and players sprinting after every touch. "I'm feeling pretty confident about it," Oswald said. "The energy is high. The guys came back fit. It looks how it should."

With the first match of the season set for Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. in the Keating Sports Center against North Central, Oswald believes the team is in a good place—prepared, focused, and ready to compete. "I think we'll be ready to go by Thursday," he said. "People are chasing after it and playing hard."

Early Emphasis, Early Identity

Much of Illinois Tech's preseason has centered on the basics—serving and passing—and Oswald made it clear that this foundation will drive the team's success. "It's just gonna be the first two contacts of the game, a lot of it," he said. "A lot of serving and passing."

The staff used a recent scrimmage night to test the team's pace, then slowed things down in the following practices to refine details. "We wanted to test ourselves," Oswald said. "Tonight and tomorrow, we're gonna break it down a little bit more, slow it down, and kind of look at those two phases of the game."

Talent Blending, Roles Emerging

There's a different look to the roster this year, with five freshmen and a transfer joining the program. The staff expects several newcomers to contribute early, including freshman outside hitter Tyson Haufschild from Littleton, Colorado. "He's looked really good," Oswald said. "He came in with a high IQ and he's kind of figured out how he needs to play a little bit differently. He's touching 11 feet, a little bit higher. He's got a really smart shot selection and doesn't throw away a lot of points."

Another freshman, middle blocker Kyle Boger from Rancho Palos Verdes, California, has impressed as well. "He's just really, really quick," Oswald said. "He's a little bit undersized for his position in the middle, but he's a really great all-around player, understands the game."

The transfer, Jared Bergren, a libero from Lynchburg University by way of Chandler, Arizona, has settled in quickly. "Jared's been doing a great job in the gym," Oswald said. "He's learning how he can push his teammates while he's developing and competing for a spot."

Returners Ready for Bigger Roles

Among the returners, junior libero Zachary Baus stands out as someone poised to take a significant step forward. "He brings a lot of amazing energy," Oswald said. "He's devoted his attention to staying consistent over winter break. He had to play a little bit, cause his touch is there right now, and I think he's gonna be confident going into the beginning of the season."

On the front line, Oswald is encouraged by a veteran core that blends steadiness and explosiveness. "Paul (Henderson) in his wise age, he's been solid," Oswald said. "He controls the ball well, he limits his errors, he is always trying to adapt." Sophomore pin Maximo Dowling has continued to develop, adding more variety to his attacks. "He's starting to develop a couple more off-speed shots and some more deceptive tips," Oswald said. "He's starting to play yo-yo with the defenders."

In the middle, junior Colten Farrell—an honorable mention all-NACC selection last season—has been unleashed. "He's hit the ground running," Oswald said. "We've been really pushing him to swing as hard as he can when he's serving the ball, when he's in the front row attacking, and we're really starting to see it."

Culture, Chemistry, and the Road Ahead

Ask Oswald about team culture, and he praises what he sees. "They have a lot of love for each other, a lot of love for the game," he said. "They realize that while they're here to experience college and make friends, they've also got a family away from home on the volleyball team."

That bond will be tested and strengthened by a demanding schedule Oswald calls the program's toughest yet. "We are playing seven of those teams on [the AVCA preseason top 20]," he said. "It's gonna help us. It's gonna help us see the 100-mile-an-hour fastball to go and hit against the guy throwing 93."

There's plenty of travel too—trips to UW-Stevens Point, Wittenberg, and a spring break swing to Boston for matches against Emmanuel and MIT. "I think it's great for bonding," Oswald said. "They get to spend time together off campus, doing what they love to do."

Inside the conference, the margins are thin, and Oswald expects a fight every night. "I think the preseason poll was relatively accurate," he said. "It's gonna be really tough." In that poll, the Scarlet Hawks were picked to finish in seventh place, which would put them in the conference post-season tournament for a third consecutive season. The Hawks were the eighth seed last season. 

As for the team's identity? Oswald kept it simple. "I think our team identity is going to be strategy," he said. "Playing smart, reminding each other what the tactic is in the moment, what type of chaos they recognize and what type of chaos we can create."

And there's a quiet confidence in how this group is trending. "I think we're gonna peak at the right time," Oswald said. "I think we're gonna be really tough about halfway through the season.""