Michael Forbes: From Sports Experimenter to Volleyball Star

Before entering high school, Marist’s Michael Forbes dabbled in several sports. He tried basketball, swimming, running, and a bit of football. Yet volleyball wasn’t on his radar until freshman year. “I jumped into it,” Forbes said, recalling how friends inspired him to give it a try. “Now I love it.”

Forbes showcased his passion on Friday at the state quarterfinals in Bolingbrook. The junior middle hitter delivered six kills, leading the RedHawks to the semifinals for a third consecutive year with a 25-22, 25-19 win over Lane Tech. Briggs Corona, a Ball State recruit, spearheaded the team with 10 kills, while freshman Max DeHoyos added five kills. Drew Fiedler contributed 20 assists. For Lane Tech, Mohamed Abdelradi registered eight kills, and Carver Forsman added six. Marist now advances to face Oak Park-River Forest.

Forbes, reflecting on his shift to volleyball, described it as “addicting,” praising the non-contact sport’s unique pace and dynamics with six players on the court. Forbes admitted he never envisioned playing in state finals since starting volleyball as a freshman, but the now well-connected team has exceeded expectations. “We just needed to get connected,” he noted about the rocky start of their season.

The current Marist team, though different in makeup from past state champions, aims high under coach Jordan Vidovic. Vidovic celebrates reaching the Final Four despite initial skepticism. For Fiedler, losing 10 seniors wasn’t a deterrence. “We knew what we could do,” he said.

Forbes has excelled this season, entering the state quarterfinals with 305 kills, 87 blocks, 151 digs, and 25 aces. Named to the Illinois Volleyball Coaches Association first team all-state, Forbes expressed surprise and excitement at the recognition. “It was a great way to pump me up pre-state,” he said.

Although the RedHawks are underdogs, they are determined to prove skeptics wrong with a strong underclassmen lineup. “We all understand that people doubt us,” Forbes emphasized. “We just put our heads down and work.”