The DuPage County All-Area girls volleyball team
Alysia Baznik
Naperville Central
As indispensable to her team’s success as any player in the area, is this junior and third-year varsity starter. Baznik set three rotations and hit right-side on the front row, before injuries moved her to the left. “She set a level for the other girls to follow,” Redhawks coach Brie Isaacson said. “She is dedicated to the program, and that’s what makes her special.”
Jessica Boddy
Metea Valley
A huge presence in the middle for the Mustangs varsity program the last two years, is this 6-foot-3 senior committed to Pittsburgh. Metea made the jump to 24 wins in its second season behind Boddy. “We would not have been nearly as competitive as we were without her,” Metea coach James Milkert said. “Just a terriffic offensive threat.”
Jessica Brezwyn
Hinsdale South
The driven junior outside continued to emerge as a go-to hitter and six-rotation player for the Hornets. Brezwyn put down 347 kills with 32 aces, 32 blocks and 101 digs. She was an AAU All-America last summer for Sports Performance 16 Elite and All-Tournament at the Wheaton Classic. “She’s not just a kid who plays off her natural gifts,” Hornets coach Lisa Martinez said. “She works really hard in practice.”
Julia Conard
West Chicago
The centerpiece to West Chicago’s renaissance on the volleyball court the last four years, is this senior outside. Conard is committed to Illinois. West Chicago’s all-time career kills leader has 315 this season and also leads the Wildcats with 230 digs and 45 aces. “She just has great court sense,” Wildcats coach Kris Hasty said.
Ashley Crawford
Naperville North
This six-rotation senior outside showed the ability to score points off her serve, blocking and attacking for the DVC co-champion Huskies. Crawford continued to improve her back-row skills and was one of Naperville North’s primary passers and top defenders. Crawford put down 234 kills and served 40 aces with 206 digs. “She brings a lot of athleticism to our lineup,” Huskies coach Jennifer Urban said.
Ally Davis
Hinsdale Central
This smooth yet powerful senior might be the state’s best outside. The Michigan recruit set her school’s single-season kill record as a junior with 419, and her 1,118 career kills have smashed the previous record of 829. Davis also holds the school record for career blocks and blocks in a season. This season she has 307 kills hitting at a .429 percentage with 179 digs, 30 aces and 22 blocks. Davis is ranked 52nd nationally among seniors by PrepVolleyball.com. “She’s made a tremendous impact on the program,” Red Devils coach Sheralynn Kellough said.
Melissa Deatsch
York
The junior outside makes up a potent duo with Caroline Rose. Deatsch has 205 kills with 71 blocks, 235 digs and 50 aces for the West Suburban Silver champions. Deatsch has developed her ballhandling skills and become a much more consistent server. A member of the First Alliance 16 Silver, Deatsch was all-tournament for the AAU junior national champions. “We’ve had a couple matches where she has been our best player,” York coach Patty Iverson said.
Katie Gallagher
York
A dynamic setter running York’s 5-1 is this senior committed to Iowa State. Gallagher made changes to her sets this year, holding her hands higher for a faster, cleaner release. Gallagher has 611 assists, 182 digs, 49 blocks, 48 kills and 32 aces on the season. Gallagher is ranked 80th nationally by PrepVolleyball.com in the Class of 2012. “She mixes things up very well,” York coach Patty Iverson said.
Maddie Haggerty
Benet
It’s scary to think she has two years left at Benet. Haggerty is as physical as any outside in the state and may be the best sophomore in Illinois. Haggerty has 170 kills and was all-tournament at Mizuno Cup. She has 100 digs and 15 aces serving at a 94 percent rate. “She hits shots that sophomores just don’t hit,” Benet coach Brad Baker said.
Meghan Haggerty
Benet
When this senior middle gets a good pass, opponents cringe. The Wisconsin recruit is ranked 14th nationally in the Class of 2012 by PrepVolleyball.com. Haggerty was MVP at Mizuno Cup and Autumnfest. She also was named Player of the Year in the East Suburban Catholic Conference. The third-year starter has 193 kills hitting at a .440 percentage and 65 blocks. “In my opinion she’s the best middle in the state,” Benet coach Brad Baker said.
Callie Huebener
Neuqua Valley
The Wildcats senior outside has made great strides in her game and could be just reaching the tip of the iceberg. She is committed to DePaul. Huebener has 186 kills, 40 blocks, 44 aces and 290 digs. Explosive at the net, Huebener also developed a strong jump serve. “Her potential is endless,” Neuqua coach Kelly Simon said.
Jenna Jendryk
Benet
When this senior right-side gets a good set, she’s almost unstoppable. The Virginia Tech recruit was MVP of the Benet Invite and the Wheaton Classic. She is ranked 93rd nationally among seniors by PrepVolleyball.com. On the year 231 has kills at a .390 percentage and 62 blocks. Jendryk is also a tremendous blocker. “One of the most explosive offensive players that we’ve ever had at Benet,” Redwings coach Brad Baker said.
Hannah Kaminsky
Benet
The Redwings junior won the setter’s job days before the season started — and has brought that competitive edge to the court all year. Kaminsky has 831 assists with 138 digs, 22 blocks and 21 aces. She was all-tournament at the Benet Invite. “If you don’t have a quarterback it doesn’t matter how much talent you have,” Benet coach Brad Baker said. “She’s a winner that finds a way.”
Melissa Nava
Hinsdale South
The heart and soul of the West Suburban Gold champion, is this four-year starter committed to Illinois-Chicago. The six-rotation player has put down 303 kills with 132 digs, 41 aces and 63 blocks. The middle hitter was all-tournament at the Mizuno Cup, the Wheaton Classic and the Warrior Blast. “She has carried the team at times,” Hornets coach Lisa Martinez said.
Caroline Rose
York
The Daily Herald All-Area Captain is this senior outside and four-year starter committed to Western Michigan. Rose leads the Dukes with 247 kills and 253 digs with 33 blocks and 29 aces. Rose stands just 5-foot-8 but is an explosive leaper. She put down 21 kills in a match against Benet. “She just loves to play volleyball,” York coach Patty Iverson said.
Caleigh Ryan
Glenbard West
The catalyst for the Hilltoppers’ first 30-win team since 1983 is this junior setter. Ryan has 701 assists to go with 61 kills, 38 aces, 39 blocks and 154 digs. She was MVP at the Wheaton North, Joliet and Glenbard West invites as the Hilltoppers won all three tournaments. “She is a natural leader, an intelligent girl,” Glenbard West coach Pete Mastandrea said, “and she just does not like to lose.”
Lisa Studnicka
Waubonsie Valley
When a set went up, Warriors opponents knew it was coming this senior outside’s way. She still put up big numbers. The Northern Michigan recruit has 345 kills, 204 digs and 33 blocks for the Upstate Eight Valley champions. “Her ability to hit around the block, take smart shots and find holes has been impressive,” Waubonsie coach Kristen Stuart said.
Jessie Tulacka
Downers Grove North
The senior committed to Bradley came out of club season a polished player and continues to shine for the Trojans. The third-year starter has a team-high 345 kills, 22 blocks and 43 aces and is second with 177 digs and 119 assists. Tulacka’s serve-receive skills have shown greatest improvement over a short time. “What’s exciting is that she just continues to get better and better,” Trojans coach Mark Wasik said.
Carly Warner
St. Francis
Another in a long line of great St. Francis setters is this senior committed to Cincinnati. Opponents learned to pay attention to Warner as an offensive weapon. Warner had 432 assists running a 6-2 with 159 kills, 40 blocks and 37 aces for the Suburban Christian Conference Blue champs. Her sets are very deceptive with the ability to shoot the ball to the back row. “She has the ability to be so good,” Spartans coach Peg Kopec said, “that she makes it look easy.”
Daiva Wise
St. Francis
One of the area’s best middles, this third-year varsity player matured into the Spartans’ go-to hitter as a senior. The Toledo recruit was one of just two Illinois players picked to the Asics Challenge All-Tournament Team. She also was named Suburban Christian Conference Co-Player of the Year. Wise put down 208 kills at a 52 percent rate with 77 blocks, 25 aces and 45 digs. “She started here as just a big kid,” St. Francis coach Peg Kopec said, “and finished as a player to be reckoned with.”
Honorable mention
Vanessa Abenante (Lisle, sr., OH); Sharon Anderson (Hinsdale South, jr., S); Payton Bayless (West Chicago, sr., S); Bianca Cifaldi (Wheaton Academy, jr., OH); Nikki Connors (Naperville Central, jr., MB); Meg DeMaar (Glenbard West, so., LB); Kim Deprez (Glenbard South, sr., LB); Corinne Gajcak (Naperville North, jr., OH); Taylor Kasal (Downers Grove North, sr., S); Colleen Larson (Naperville North, jr., LB); Jenna Lodewyk (Timothy Christian, so., S); Kim Martino (Immaculate Conception, so., S); Rachel Minarick (Waubonsie Valley, so., S/RS); Dominique Millette (Hinsdale Central, jr., MB); Carolyn Nojiri (Downers Grove North, jr., LB); Kaitlynn Novak (Neuqua Valley, sr., MB); Leighanne Novak (Neuqua Valley, sr., MB); Kate Phalen (WW South, sr., OH); Morgan Semmelhack (York, sr., RS); Sam Schrenker (York, sr., MB); Nora Young (Benet, sr., OH).