Lincoln-Way West junior David Neylon enters the season as a key presence at the net, bringing size, experience, and year-round training to the Warriors’ lineup.
Neylon, a 6-foot-4 middle hitter, has played volleyball since eighth grade and continues to compete in club volleyball during the offseason to sharpen his skills.
“Club gives you tons of reps and a lot of experience that you wouldn’t get anywhere else,” Neylon said.
Focused on his responsibilities in the middle, Neylon has worked extensively on improving both his blocking and hitting technique over the past year. As a middle hitter, he plays a critical role in defending against attacks across the court while also contributing offensively.
“I’ve been working on my blocking form and my hitting,” he said.
Despite a strong regular season last year, Lincoln-Way West struggled in the postseason, finishing with only two playoff victories. Neylon hopes the team can build on that experience and make a deeper run this spring.
“I definitely want a better postseason this year,” he said. “I think we can make it to sectional finals, if not state.”
Individually, Neylon aims to post strong offensive numbers while dominating at the net defensively.
“I want a high kill rate and a lot of blocks this season,” he said.
With continued development and added experience, Neylon is expected to be a major factor in the Warriors’ pursuit of postseason success.
