Oak Park-River Forest senior setter Matthew Proskey stands out in volleyball so much that he earned a new nickname from his coaches and teammates. During a practice session, coach Justin Cousin made a comment that got senior middle blocker Wesley Kochendorfer thinking about Proskey’s style. “Our coach joked around because Proskey is aggressive,” Kochendorfer shared. “I believe he’s one of the most aggressive setters in the state.”
Cousin quipped, “He doesn’t know what he is. He’s confused. He’s like a set-something.” A lightbulb moment for Kochendorfer led to the nickname: “He’s the set-tacker.” Despite there being no such term in volleyball, Proskey lived up to his new name as a key player in the Huskies’ journey to their first state championship match since 1998.
“This season has been great. It’s all been kind of a blur because of how much fun I’ve been having,” Proskey noted.
At the state final in Bolingbrook, Proskey achieved 39 assists, contributing to Oak Park-River Forest’s performance as they fell 25-19, 22-25, 25-20 against Glenbard West. Over three matches, he amassed 89 assists, leading the eight-team field. His accomplishments included a win over two-time defending state champion Marist in the semifinals. Junior outside hitter Jimmie Chrusfield III contributed with the most kills—43.
Proskey’s statistics for Oak Park-River Forest (33-5-1) are notable. He achieved 794 assists this season and has nearly 1,400 in his career, marking him as a reliable setter for the team. “My success is largely due to our setter,” Kochendorfer said.
Proskey, also a team captain alongside Kochendorfer and senior libero Gus Leman, showcases versatility. “He can do everything,” Chrusfield affirmed. “My freshman year, when someone was subbed out, Proskey played outside hitter and led us to victory.”
“Proskey has been a pivotal part of our team’s strategy,” Coach Cousin remarked.
Glenbard West was the only Illinois team to defeat Oak Park-River Forest this season. The Huskies managed a victory against them on April 14, the same day Matthew’s brother, Calvin, excelled in baseball, pitching successfully for UC Santa Barbara against UCLA.
The Proskey family shares a rich sports heritage. “My mom and dad try to watch us both,” Matthew said. While Calvin chose to focus on baseball, Matthew found his passion in volleyball. “In volleyball, I’m always active,” he reflected.