Tri-Cities girls volleyball previews
Aurora Central
Coach: Jeanne Czipri
Last year: 29-8
Key returnees: Jill Huseman, S, sr.; Kendall Adams, MH, sr.; Ashley Wilk, OH, sr.; Katilyn Rosa, OH, sr.; Sam Koziol, DS, sr.; Emily Schroeder, OH, sr.
Top newcomers: Ally Kane, DS, jr.; Amber Konen, DS, jr.; Claire Tack, DS, so.; Gail Koziol, S, jr.; Santia Miller, MH, jr.; Kelsey Talkington, MH, jr.; Kaitlin Blackwell, OH, jr.; Sam Chmielewski, OH, jr.
Outlook: The Chargers enter 2011 after setting the program record for wins for the second straight season, this time going 29-8 to claim the co-championship of the SCC Blue Division after they won the Blue outright in 2009. The Chargers also won the Timothy Chrisitian/Chicago Christian Invite and Plano Invite, took 3rd at the St. Viator Invite and fourth at the Kaneland Spikefest. Senior 5-foot-10 outside hitter Wilk was part of both of those teams, a 3-year returning starter. “(Wilk) adds much experience and power to the offense and mobility to the defense,” Chargers coach Jeanne Czipri said. “She is anxious and excited to play her role as our senior outside.” Adams is another 3-year varsity player and returning starter, and a “strong offensive and defensive threat” according to Czipri.
Huseman takes over the role as quarterbacking the offense after seeing time both defensively and as setter last year. Czipri is looking for Koziol, Kane, Konen and Tack to provide a strong back court. Czipri said Schroeder developed in the off-season and will contend for court time with junior outsides Blackwell Chmielewski. Middles Miller and Talkington will compete for the other starting middle role. The Chargers finished second to Neuqua Valley in the summer league at Great Lakes. “Summer went extremely well,” Czipri said. “We have a team this year that has a ton of depth and talent at every position, and much stronger ball control across the board than the program has had in past years.” That depth has made selecting a starting lineup harder than past years. “It is difficult to determine who will be my starters because every athlete plays such a unique role and brings their own strengths and weapons to the court,” Czipri said. This promises to be a challenging season for Aurora Central in its first year in the tougher Gold Division of the SCC but the Chargers will be 2A instead of 3A come the postseason. “We are thrilled to challenge the consistently talented programs in our conference,” Czipri said. “It will be a tough road, but we are using our highly competitive conference and tournament schedule to prepare us for the road to state.”
Aurora Christian
Coach: Andrew Palmer
Last year: 18-17
Key returnees: Taylor Knauf, S, jr.; Emily Neely, RS, sr.; Faith Montalbano, MH, jr.; Courtney Pendry, DS, sr.
Top newcomers: Danielle Huseman, OH, so.; Lauren Weaver, OH, sr.; Lindsey Larson, MH, sr.
Outlook: Palmer, who has coached club volleyball with the Kane County juniors for three years, has a luxury in Knauf to run the team after the Eagles went 7-3 in conference last year for third place. “The most natural talent in a setter that I have coached, with the most competitive attitude,” Palmer said. Neely is a two-year starter, an aggressive hitter with a positive attitude, and all-around team player,” according to Palmer. Montalbano is aggressive at the net, and working hard everyday to perfect her position, said Palmer. Pendry is a three-year varsity player who handles the back row defense. Weaver and Larson both return to the team after taking last year off. Palmer has high hopes for this year's team. “I have and expect a championship caliber team,” Palmer said. “They are hungry and have the talent to feed it. We are not a tall team, but they will never give up, and I know we will surprise a lot of teams. We are excited for the challenges of the season and the challenges we have set on ourselves.”
Batavia
Coach: Lori Trippi-Payne
Last year: 32-6
Key returnees: Mary Nilles, S, sr.; Briahna Havis, DS, jr.; Meghan Fabian, DS, sr.; Kristen Koncelik, MH, jr.; Kaytlin St. Clair, MH, sr.; Anysa Ocon, RS, jr.; Stephanie Kinane, L, sr.
Top newcomers: Jess Hartmann, OH, so.; Heather Meyer, OH, so.; Audrey Faulhaber, S/RS, so.; Shea Thayer, MH/RS, so.; Erin Costigan, DS, so.
Outlook: The Bulldogs made quite a splash in their first year in the Upstate Eight Conference, winning the River Division and a regional title as part of a record-setting 32-6 season. Trippi-Payne said she had 86 girls try out this fall. The Marquette-bound Nilles is back, a 4-year varsity starter. Koncelik led the team in blocks last year, her third year as a starter, and made all-conference. Havis and Fabian both have experience as defensive specialists. Batavia is in great hands there with Kinane, who broke several school records in digging and serving. She's visited five colleges this summer but has yet to decide after being named best libero in the 17-open division this past spring at the National Junior Classic.
“For us, the big question will be who is going to be able to take on more of our offensive load this year,” Trippi-Payne said. “We graduated and lost a total of six players from last year's team. So, offensively we have some question marks at this point. I think we will be solid defensively, and we are hoping that will pull us through some matches at the beginning of the season.” Batavia will find out early if it can find new offense with 14 matches in the first two weeks. “In terms of conference, I think we can compete with all of the teams, and realistically, I think we have a chance to place in the top three this season,” Trippi-Payne said. “We hope to have another opportunity to play for a regional championship as well.”
Burlington Central
Coach: Marv Leavitt
Conference: Big Northern (East)
Last year: 12-22
Top players: seniors Sam Bohne (L), Hayley Brake (MH), Kaitlyn O'Reilly (S), Stephanie Sipinski (DS) Brenda Thasavong (MH), Sydney Sand (OH); juniors Lexie Bouza (OH), Courtney Cox (S), ; sophomores Allie O'Reilly (DS/S); freshman Lauren Wiltsie (OH)
Outlook: The Rockets suffered an unfortunate setback when fourth-year setter Kaitlyn O'Reilly (Southern Illinois-Edwardsville) broke her patella during warmups for the season opener last Wednesday. An all-area and all-BNC East selection, she registered 420 assists, 119 digs, 84 kills and 48 aces as a junior. The bad news is she'll miss 4-6 weeks of the regular season. The good news is she is expected to be back in time for the playoffs. Cox, a junior, stepped in and set the Rockets to a victory over St. Edward in the opener. She and O'Reilly's freshman sister, Allie, will likely see time at setter until Kaitlyn retuns in October. “Allie is a starting defensive specialist, but she'll also train at setter for now,” said Rockets coach Marv Leavitt.
“We're a work in progress now. We'll have to ee what makes our team better.” The defense is a strength, led by the libero, Bohne, a four-year varsity player. She was a member of the Sky-High 17-U Black team that won the AAU national championship this summer for the second straight year. She'll team with Allie O'Reilly and Sipinski, herself a four-year varsity member, thereby forming a formidable back row. Thasavong is the team's tallest player. She made 161 blocks last year. Middle Brake is the only returning hitter who posted a plus-.300 hitting percentage in 2010. Sand (5-7) had 15 kills in Central's first two matches.
Geneva
Coach: KC Johnsen
Last year: 23-14
Key returnees: Melissa Hanika, RH, sr.; Ashleigh Shain, L, sr.; Hannah Buck, OH, so.
Top newcomers: Jess Wicinski, Kellyl Dalhiem.
Outlook: A team coming into a season that graduated as many seniors as Geneva did last year normally would be concerned. Bringing a junior group to varsity that went 34-1 at the sophomore level makes life better. That's the situation Geneva finds itself in this fall. The new players showed what they've got in a season-opening 25-12, 25-16 win over Sycamore. Wicinski led the way with 6 kills. Shain gives the Vikings an asset in the back row and started with 18 digs against Sycamore's offense while Dalhiem had 12 digs. The Vikings might not have as many returnees as other local teams like St. Charles East, but that also was the case last year and Geneva scrapped and battled its way to a 23-win season despite a 9-game losing streak in the middle of the season. Expect more of the same.
Kaneland
Coach: Todd Weimer
Last year: 19-14
Key returnees: Grace Fabrizuis, OH/RS, sr.; Kourtni Bingley, OH/DS, sr.; Lauren Banbury, MH, jr.; Lyndi Scholl, OH/RS, jr.; Malory Groen, MH, sr.; Katy Dudzinski, RS/OH, sr.; Kylie Siebert, L, sr.
Top newcomers: Keri Groen, MH/RS, jr.; Ashley Prost, S/RS, jr.; Rachael Clinton, DS, jr.; Maddie King, OH, so.; Jenny Lubic, S/RS, so.
Outlook: Watch out for the Knights. They went 7-3 last year to take second in the Northern Illinois Big 12, and along the way they notched some impressive wins including at Sycamore and at Geneva for the first time in 19 years. While Jessica Lubic has left for Northern Illinois, there's plenty of talent back. Dudzinski, a three-year varsity player and as powerful hitter as you'll see, is committed to Wichita State. Siebert is another three-year varsity player and captain along with Dudzinski and Malory Groen. “Varsity experience is huge for us,” Weimer said. “We have a ton of experience and the players are extremely versatile. They can play multiple positions. Defense, serving and serve-receive along with strong leadership are some of our strengths this season.”
Rosary
Coach: Lisa Kasper
Last year: 26-12
Key returnees: Amelia Wegman, OH, sr.; Abby Konovodff, S, sr.; Mary Graham, DS, sr. Maggie Galush, MH, sr.; Jennifer Hewitt, MH/RS, jr.; Kate Stefanski, MH/RS, jr.; Marissa Prochaska, MH/RS, jr.; Briana Flagg, LS, jr.;
Top newcomers: Kati Baki, DS, jr.; Erin Bowe, LS, jr.; Alexis Banks, S/OH, jr.; Tori Tassos, S/DS, jr.
Outlook: The Royals look primed for another big year. Rosary has to replace libero Haley Norris, and Kasper said Graham and Baki are battling for that job. But there's plenty of talent coming back, starting with four-year starter Wegman. The left side had 380 kills last season and earned all-conference. Setter Konovodff, a 3-year starter, had 255 assists last season and played on the Junior National A2 team this summer. Flagg provides a powerful hitter who made the all-tournament team last year at Plainfield North. Kasper has plenty of other returnees to turn to like Galush, Hewitt, Stefanski and Prochaska. The Royals will run a 5-1.
“Our entire offense remains intact, so no replacements there, but Erin Bowe has been making some noise in practice and may work her way into the starting lineup,” Kasper said. The Royals will find out right away how they stack up against the likes of Huntley, Joliet West, Lincoln Way East and Providence, and they responded taking third at the Plainfield North tournament.
St. Charles East
Coach: Jennie Kull
Last year: 28-11.
Top players: Maisey Mulvey, DS/L, sr.; Kathleen Dailey, OH/MH, sr.; Meghan Niski, OH, sr.; Nicole Woods, OH/MH, jr.; Sarah Dugan, DS, sr.; Allison Manley, OH, sr.; Stephanie Camper, S, sr.; Nichole Lambert, MH, sr.; Erienne Barry, S, jr.; Caitlyn Ballard, OH, jr.; Kadie Brooks, OH, sr.
Outlook: Another year, another St. Charles East volleyball you better look out for. It especially helps to have Barry back at setter after the junior missed the second half of her sophomore year with a knee injury. “Erienne's a fighter, Erienne's a worker,” Kull said. “She worked really hard in the off-season to get herself back and she does a great job leading the team. That's one thing we have a lot of on this team is great leaders.” Barry was released to play April 19 but didn't play much in the club season. She played in Italy in July for the U.S. Select team.
“This season should be a lot of fun,” Barry said. “We're an older team, we don't have any freshmen or sophomores which is unusual for us. We have a lot to work on over the next couple months but it's going to be a fun season, very fun.” The Saints opened the year with a loss to Benet before bouncing back to beat East Aurora, starting a lineup of Dailey, Niski, Dugan, Manley, Lambert, Barry and
Mulvey. If it seems like Mulvey and Niski have been around the program forever — which it surely does to opposing coaches — it's because the two were up as freshmen playing big roles in helping the Saints win the 2008 state championship.
St. Charles North
Coach: Lindsey Hawkins
Last year: 19-14
Key returnees: Kim Juriga, RS, sr.; Jill Stolzenburg, MH, sr.; Lauren Madziarczyk, OH, sr.
Top newcomers: Ali Gage, DS, jr.; Emily Belz, S, jr.
Outlook: Hawkins looks to Juriga, a 6-foot-1 right side who was named to the Upstate Eight All-Conference team last year and had the highest hitting percentage for the team, and Stolzenburg, an extremely talented middle who is back after sustaining a serious illness last year, to power the North Stars' attack. “As a sophomore, Jill was one of our leaders in kills and blocks and so we are looking to see her make a big impact this year,” Hawkins said. Juriga also was one of the team leaders in kills and blocks. Madziarczyk, a 5-foot-11 outside hitter, is another returning starter for us who Hawkins calls one of the team's most solid all-around players.
Gage played varsity in 2009, did not play in 2010, and is back as an anchor on defense. Belz is taking over at setter. “I am thinking this will be another great season,” Hawkins said. “I'm really looking forward to seeing what these girls can do. We have a great core group of seniors, some of which have been on varsity for three years now, and playing club together for a long time. We have a lot of very versatile hitters and some really outstanding defensive players in the back court to back them up so I'm looking forward to a great season.”
West Aurora
Coach: Kari Nicholson
Last year: 23-12
Key returnees: Lauren Carlini, RH/S, jr.; Kelsey Richmond, OH, sr.; Peyton McKenzie, OH, jr.; Lauren Wilson, MB, sr.; Kaitlyn Richter, RS, jr.; Dazmine Chaney, DS, sr.
Top newcomers: Nerissa Vogt, MB, jr.; Alexis McKenzie, S, sr.; Josie Small, DS, sr.; Analise Hanson, DS, sr.; Abigail Schaschwary, OH, sr.
Outlook: Nobody has a better player to build around than the Blackhawks with Carlini, who just returned from Turkey after playing in the Olympic Junior Games. The future Wisconsin Badger is already a 2-time all-DVC performer and last year's All-Area captain. The other good news for West Aurora is she's not the only key player back. Richmond is a 3-year starter and DVC special mention in 2010. McKenzie is a 2-year starter who made all-conference last fall. Wilson and Richter also are returning starters giving the Blackhawks what they need for a run at a DVC title. “I am very excited about this season,” Nicholson said. “We have an excellent core group of returners and great talent to fill the other spots. Our team has set high expectations for itself and we are excited to reach them. We are ready to show how we have grown and how we play together. This team is very focused on their goals.”
St. Francis
Coach: Peg Kopec
Last year: 31-8 overall, 11-1 (first) in the Suburban Christian Conference Blue; lost to Joliet Catholic 11-25, 25-20, 25-18 in the Class 3A Rosary sectional final.
Top players: Daiva Wise, sr., MB; Carly Warner, sr., S; Grace Churney, RS; McKenna Kelsay, jr., S; Mary Boeken, fr., MB; Michelle McLaughlin, jr., OH; Haley Gable, sr., OH.
Outlook: It was no secret where St. Francis was going for its kills the last two years, what with Kelsey Robinson and Meg Vonderhaar roaming the outside. Expect the Spartans to turn to the middle this fall. With the last two Daily Herald All-Area captains now in college, it's Toledo recruit Wise that is St. Francis' big hitter. “Daiva has improved markedly,” Kopec said. Wise will be joined in the middle by 6-1 freshman Boeken, the third Boeken sister to suit up at St. Francis. Cincinnati recruit Warner, who sat out last year after transferring from Naperville North, will run a 6-2 with Kelsay, the younger sister of former Spartans standout Kristen Kelsay. “She's feisty,” Kopec said of the younger Kelsay, “and very competitive.” Kopec said to expect a more balanced offense. “A lot will depend on our passing,” Kopec said. “When you have strong middle hitters you have to get that ball to the setter.”
Wheaton Academy
Coach: D.A. Nichols
Last year: 13-17 overall; lost to Lincoln-Way West 32-30, 25-14 in the Class 4A Lemont regional semifinal.
Top players: Jennifer Schmitz, sr., S; Renatta Gorski, sr., RS; Abby Burdett, sr., MB; Jessie Garmon, sr., LB; Bianca Cifaldi, jr., OH; Jessica Bosse, fr., DS; Sydney Vischer, fr., OH; Brianna Tellschow, so., MB.
Outlook: There is an air of uncertainty around the Warriors, and it isn't just because they are moving over to the other division of the Suburban Christian Conference. Wheaton Academy graduated nine seniors, chief among them Molly McCoy who is now at UIC. Nichols does know that Cifaldi, she of Sports Performance pedigree, will step in as the go-to hitter. Schmitz, Gorski and Burdett are others returning. Vischer is the third member of her family to play for Nichols.