Brother Rice's Colin Nye powers through injury to lead volleyball win

Senior outside hitter tallies 8 kills in 26-24, 25-19 victory over Lincoln-Way East

Apr. 14, 2026 at 4:42am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a volleyball player in mid-air, surrounded by geometric shapes and planes of color, capturing the dynamic energy of the sport.Colin Nye's diving plays and powerful kills helped power Brother Rice to a hard-fought victory over Lincoln-Way East.Chicago Today

Despite nursing a right biceps injury, senior outside hitter Colin Nye finished with 8 kills and made several spectacular diving digs to lead Brother Rice to a 26-24, 25-19 nonconference volleyball win over Lincoln-Way East. Teammate Brian Adamski added 6 kills, including 2 during a key 5-point run that turned a 24-21 deficit into a 26-24 first-game win for the Crusaders.

Why it matters

Nye's performance shows his toughness and leadership for Brother Rice, a perennial volleyball power in the Chicago area. The Crusaders are looking to make a deep playoff run this season, and having a healthy Nye will be crucial to their success.

The details

After taking some time off last week to rest his injured right biceps, Nye was a little rusty early, with his first serve falling well short of the net. But the 6-foot-4 senior quickly found his groove, delivering several highlight-reel plays to spark the Crusaders. Brother Rice coach Brandon McGinnis was relieved to see Nye back at full strength, calling him 'one of the best in the state' when he's playing at his best.

  • Two weeks ago, Nye was nursing the right biceps injury.
  • Last week, Nye took some time off while Brother Rice had a break from competition.
  • On Monday, Nye returned to action against Lincoln-Way East.

The players

Colin Nye

A 6-foot-4 senior outside hitter for Brother Rice, Nye is considered one of the best players in the state. He is headed to Florida State to study professional sales after this season.

Brian Adamski

A senior middle hitter for Brother Rice, Adamski added 6 kills, including 2 during a key 5-point run that turned a 24-21 deficit into a 26-24 first-game win for the Crusaders.

Brandon McGinnis

The head coach of the Brother Rice volleyball team, McGinnis was relieved to see Nye back at full strength, calling him 'one of the best in the state' when he's playing at his best.

Jackson Thayer

A player for Lincoln-Way East, Thayer tallied 6 kills and 3 block assists in the loss.

Carter Geiger

A player for Lincoln-Way East, Geiger added 5 kills in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“'No excuses. I was a little embarrassed. I had some friends here, so I was embarrassed.'”

— Colin Nye, Senior outside hitter, Brother Rice

“'We weren't sure how it was going to feel. But watching him in the pregame, his arm swing was back and we knew he was going to get the green light.'”

— Brandon McGinnis, Head coach, Brother Rice

“'He brings something that opens everyone else up. People are so focused on him.'”

— Brian Adamski, Senior middle hitter, Brother Rice

What’s next

Brother Rice will look to continue its strong start to the season as it prepares for upcoming conference matches.

The takeaway

Colin Nye's gutsy performance through injury showcases his leadership and competitive spirit, which will be crucial for Brother Rice as it aims to make a deep playoff run in the highly competitive Chicago-area volleyball landscape.