Girls Volleyball

Girls volleyball: Fox Valley All-Area team

Posted November 02, 2010 11:00 pm

By Jerry Fitzpatrick

Sam Boesch

Sam Boesch Huntley

Nicknamed “Slammin' Sammy” by the Raider Nation student section, this powerful outside hitter helped Huntley to a 32-win season with her big swings and solid defense. The junior finished her third varsity season with 287 kills, 264 digs and 20 aces. “She really stepped up as an all-around player,” Huntley coach Michelle Jakubowski said. “She got to play all the way around this year and play outside hitter. She's growing into that role and definitely got better as the year progressed, and she'll definitely get better next year.”

Hannah Burkle Crystal Lake South

Committed to play at Eastern Kentucky University, this repeat all-area pick is one of the top middle blockers in the suburbs. The 6-foot-2 senior was a force for the Gators on the front line, where she made 78 blocks and totaled 278 kills. “Hannah was one of the biggest offensive threats for our team this season,” CL South coach Jorie Fontana said. “She has a powerful hit that was difficult to stop for most teams even when they triple blocked her. With her height and strength she could be a wall at the net. She had some blocks that seemed to hit the floor almost at the same time they were hit.”

Amy Dion Huntley

Huntley's third-year varsity libero, recently committed to the University of Maryland, continued to defend the court as well as any player in the area. A repeat all-area selection, this junior team captain finished the season with 435 digs and made only 34 serve receive errors in 459 attempts (92.6 percent). She also contributed 46 aces, 53 kills and 40 assists for a squad that finished 32-5. “She's a leader on and off the court,” Huntley coach Michelle Jakubowski said. “She's our emotional leader and she just does an all-around nice job. She gets to everything.”

Alex Dumoulin Hampshire

After Hampshire's volleyball program graduated Kara and Amy Wehrs, now at Kansas, this second-year outside hitter assumed a leadership role for a squad that finished with 19 victories and took second in the Big Northern East. Dumoulin contributed a team-best 329 kills and demonstrated her versatility as an all-around player with 212 digs and 36 aces. “I was so proud of her,” Hampshire coach Karen Whitehouse said. “She definitely turned into a leader for us. She was one of our captains and became a real go-to player.”

Alyssa Ehrhardt Jacobs

Arguably the most talented underclassman in the area, this sophomore continued to put her stamp on the Jacobs volleyball program in her second varsity season by leading the Golden Eagles with 283 kills. She also contributed 170 digs and jump served her way to 83 aces. “She's really maturing,” Jacobs coach Lisa Dwyer said of her talented outside hitter. “Her defense and serve receive came around so much this year. She's got a lot more growing to do, but I'm proud of the offense she showed this season and I look forward to working with her two more years.”

Hannah Graves Westminster Christian

The Warriors (21-11-1) were led by this senior setter, a three-sport athlete and team captain who appeared just as comfortable hitting as she was setting Westminster Christian's 6-2 offense. Graves finished this season as the team leader in assists (242), kills (188), aces (38) and blocks (18) and was third on her team in digs (183). “She had a very good year last year and she exceeded that this year,” coach Guy Lum said. “She's only 5-8, but she has long arms and can jump high. She will definitely be playing volleyball in college.”

Jacki Gulczynski Bartlett

A standout basketball player committed to the University of Wisconsin, this talented 6-foot-1 athlete was the leader for a Bartlett team that finished the season 22-13-1. This middle blocker recorded 60 solo blocks and 17 assisted. A .395 hitter, she recorded 208 kills to go with 67 aces and 97 digs. “She really impressed me this year considering she only plays volleyball three months out of the year,” Bartlett coach Brandon Mueller said. “She was the hardest worker in the gym and a dominant force on the front row. She hit almost .400 and would have had more kills if we'd been able to pass a little better.”

Margie Haggenjos St. Edward

A four-year varsity starter and team leader, this senior began her career as a defensive specialist and finished it as a right-side hitter, a position she adjusted to last season. “Margie was a captain and did a great job leading the team,” St. Edward coach Jaime Dovichi said. “We tended to have a pretty quiet team and Margie really took on a leadership role and tried to motivate her teammates. She has great court sense. She played so many positions for me she was like a little coach out there on the floor.”

Tia Incapreo Hampshire

Whether she was facing Big Northern East champion Richmond-Burton or defending Class 4A state champion Cary-Grove, this senior libero not only showed no fear but seemed to relish the challenges from top competition. “Tia is a very competitive player,” Hampshire coach Karen Whitehouse said. “She always wanted to win and she really stepped up in big games.” A spry defender willing to lay out to keep a ball from hitting the floor, Incapreo finished her final varsity season with 397 digs for a team that won 19 matches.

Melanie Jereb Cary-Grove

This 6-foot-1 junior joined the starting lineup for the defending Class 4A champions and settled in as a key contributor for a team that entered a sectional final with a record of 38-0. The junior contributed to her team's success with 110 kills and 155 digs. She also used her powerful jump serve to score 37 aces. “She was definitely a question mark for us at the end of last year because we had no idea how she would develop strength-wise or as far as confidence because she'd never played on a varsity court,” Cary-Grove coach Patty Langanis said. “But she came in this year and really worked on technique. Every week we're seeing huge progress with her mentally and physically. She's been a fantastic surprise as she's become a go-to player and not just a player filling a position.”

Kelly Lamberti Cary-Grove

The honorary captain of the Daily Herald All-Area team, this 6-foot outside hitter is the engine that makes the Cary-Grove offense hum. After setting career and single-season records for kills last year, this senior added another 268 kills to her total, not to mention 184 digs, a total second on the team only to libero Sam Mainzer. In possession of a wicked jump serve, Lamberti enters the sectional title match with 63 aces to her credit. “She never worries about having to score for us to win,” Trojans coach Patty Langanis said. “She just wants to get the ball and have some fun. She develops even more focus the bigger the game, the bigger the opponent, the tighter the match. That's what is most impressive.”

Taylor Lesner Jacobs

This senior outside hitter teamed with sophomore Alyssa Ehrhardt to form bookend hitters the likes of which Jacobs hasn't enjoyed in years. A team captain, Lesner kept the Golden Eagles focused while contributing 185 kills, 198 digs and 36 aces for a team that won 18 matches. “She was such a good leader,” Jacobs coach Lisa Dwyer said. “She always stayed positive. She's one player who has worked so hard on finding shots, and it really paid off her senior year.”

Sam Mainzer Cary-Grove

One of four returning starters from the Class 4A state championship team, this senior completed her first full season at libero after switching to the position midway through the 2009 season. Mainzer led the undefeated Trojans with 191 digs entering the sectional title match. She also has 32 aces. “Sam came in this year finally as a full-time libero and her confidence level really skyrocketed this season,” Cary-Grove coach Patty Langanis said. “She has a ton of ability. She's very calm and very confident on the court, and that's exactly what you need in a great libero.”

Kaitlyn O'Reilly Burlington Central

This junior setter demonstrated her versatility by hitting in two rotations, but setting up her teammates was a strength for O'Reilly, who directed Central's young offense. She finished the season with 420 assists, 119 digs, 84 kills and 48 aces, but her leadership was as instrumental in a rebuilding year for the young Rockets as any of her final statistics. “She's a great leader, the latest in a long line of great leaders we've had here,” Central coach Marv Leavitt said. “She kept us together in some negative situations with a positive attitude and did anything asked of her, whether that was hitting or setting.”

Ashley Rosch Cary-Grove

Cary-Grove's middle blocker is one of the strongest players in the area, which bodes poorly for Cary-Grove's opponents. “She has hit the weight room so hard and she's physically much stronger than many of her opponents,” Trojans coach Patty Langanis said. “She plays with a lot of passion and heart and she competes very hard. She's definitely become one of the top middles around.” One of four returning starters from the Class 4A state champion team, this junior entered Thursday's sectional title match with 159 kills, 94 digs and 42 jump-serve aces.

Ashley Smith Huntley

Smith played through early season ankle and shoulder injuries to finish as Huntley's leading hitter with 314 kills and a kill efficiency of .415. A three-year varsity starter, this junior has the ability to hit with power but can also finesse the opponent with smart shots struck at clever angles. “She had a great year,” Huntley coach Michelle Jakubowski said. “By the middle of the year she got past the ankle and the shoulder and got her confidence back and was swinging with no pain. She's such a hard worker. She really became a leader on our team just with how much she talked and kept the team going. I'm excited to see that for next year to see what kind of player she can grow into and, hopefully, play all the way around.”

Colleen Smith Cary-Grove

After playing right side hitter for the 2009 Class 4A title team, this natural setter returned to her position and didn't miss a beat. Committed to Indiana University, Smith sets one of the fastest, most diverse offenses in the state. She possesses remarkable court vision, demonstrated by her 627 assists and 81 kills. One of the most feared servers in the state, her diving topspin serves have resulted in a team-best 65 aces through the sectional semifinals. The all-around player also has 166 digs. “Colleen took this year as an opportunity to show her ability,” Cary-Grove coach Patty Langanis said. “She has brought her game to a whole other level this year with her leadership skills and with her own offense. She's become one of the most offensive setters we've had with her tipping and her dumping. She does a fantastic job of keeping our offense spread.”

Allison Whimpey Cary-Grove

This senior moved to right side hitter this season and broke into the starting lineup for the defending Class 4A state champions. Committed to the University of Tennessee-Martin, the hard-swinging right-hander has made an impact by ranking third in kills (120) for a team that entered a sectional final with a 38-0 record. The 6-foot senior has also posted 41 aces, 42 assists and 47 digs. “She was a question mark after moving over to the right side, which is new for her,” Cary-Grove coach Patty Langanis said. “But she took the position by storm. She has a quick arm swing and an aggressive block and she just turned into a fabulous right side for us.”

Honorable mention

Bartlett: Lauren Hartford (Sr., OH); Burlington Central: Brenda Thasavong (Jr., MB); Cary-Grove: Mallory Wilczynski (So., MB); Crystal Lake South: Taylor Granell (Sr., OH); Dundee-Crown: Lauren Mosher (Sr., OH); Huntley: Jaina Jackson (Jr., MB), Eli Manning (Jr., S); Jacobs: Quinn Leuhring (Sr., S); Larkin: Lexi Smithberg (Sr., OH); St. Edward: Katie Ayello (Jr., DS); South Elgin: Laura Ballance (Jr., OH); Streamwood: Alyson Montemayor (Jr., S); Westminster Christian: Cara Tyrrell (So., OH)

Captains honor roll

1995 — Jaime Johnson (CL South)

1996 — Stacy Barnett (CL South)

1997 — Vicki Lublow (Larkin) and Joni Melahn (Larkin)

1998 — Sarah Ahnen (Jacobs) and Nicole Kwasniewski (Elgin)

1999 — Marion Hansen (Huntley), Julie Malm (Larkin) and Jorie Miguel (Jacobs)

2000 — Erin Borhart (Huntley) and Kelly Hopkins (St. Edward)

2001 — Erin Borhart (Huntley) and Jamie Hastings (Cary-Grove)

2002 — Meredith Stach (St. Edward) and Aimee Knott (St. Edward)

2003 — Brittney Aldridge (Hampshire)

2004 — Alyssa Groves (St. Edward)

2005 — Hillary Haen (Prairie Ridge) and Paige Johnson (St. Edward)