Tri-Cities volleyball teams prepare for stacked sectional

Perhaps the Illinois High School Association knew exactly what it was doing when the decision came to shuffle a few girls volleyball sectional tournament alignments this season.

Maybe the decision was just by chance - call it the luck of the draw.

Whatever the case, the upcoming Class 4A Bartlett sectional field promises to be one of the most competitive in recent memory.

I say it borders on almost being unfair.

In past years, the 4A sectional field has included local teams Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles East and St. Charles North along with perennial powers Glenbard West, Glenbard South, Wheaton North and York.

This time around, the IHSA has shifted York, Addison Trail, Glenbard East and Willowbrook eastbound to the DeLaSalle sectional.

In their place, along come Naperville North, Neuqua Valley, Waubonsie Valley - and Benet Academy.

Yes, that Benet Academy.

The one that placed second in the state to Mother McAuley last year after claiming back-to-back state championships in 2012 and 2011.

The one that sits atop the most recent Daily Herald volleyball rankings and improved its unblemished record to 27-0 following last weekend's impressive title-winning performance at the 24-team St. Charles East Mizuno Cup Tournament in Aurora.

The one that possesses a front line featuring 6-foot-3 senior Rachael Fara, 5-11 senior Dana Griffin, 5-10 junior Tiffany Clark and 5-10 sophomore southpaw Veronica Snelling to go with 6-foot setter Sara Nielsen and 5-9 libero Natalie Canulli.

The one that has won 91 percent of its matches since Brad Baker (284-29) took over as Redwings head coach in 2007.

This is the first time since the IHSA instituted the 4-class system for girls volleyball in 2007 that Benet Academy is in the same sectional with the St. Charles schools.

Having earned a pair of state titles (2008 and 2001) and third-place finishes (2011 and 2007), coach Jennie Kull's St. Charles East teams have long represented the Tri-Cities area well.

St. Charles North, which captured back-to-back sectional titles in 2006 and 2005, has won 3 consecutive regional championships under the direction of coach Lindsey Hawkins and earned a share of its second straight conference championship by beating St. Charles East Tuesday night.

Geneva, which has captured 10 regional titles since 1999, took over a more prominent area role during last year's sectional title run that included upset wins over top-seeded Glenbard West and St. Charles North and ended with a supersectional loss to New Trier.

Although Batavia's string of 20-win seasons will likely end at 7 this year, coach Lori Trippi-Payne's Bulldogs earned a 4A regional title just 4 years ago (2010) and have always been competitive.

Throughout the years, the Tri-Cities area has been one of the state's strongest in terms of churning out volleyball talent.

In recent seasons, however, that volleyball talent level has seemingly exploded.

"Our area is loaded in talent," said Kull. "We have two of the top clubs in the country in Fusion and Sports Performance - and now Fusion South in our area (Batavia).

"I think that has inspired a lot of kids. Girls that might have gone a different direction have really focused on volleyball. Mike Bui (Fusion South program director) really did a lot with that, building it up and making it happen."

Additional clubs like Kane County Jrs and Northern Lights have also contributed to the Tri-Cities' strength.

"There are a lot of different clubs in the area and I think they've really inspired kids to play," said Kull. "It is a big change from past years."

A year ago, Geneva, St. Charles East and St. Charles North joined Glenbard West at the Geneva sectional.

This year's Bartlett sectional field includes the 4 aforementioned schools along with sectional finalists Glenbard South and Naperville North.

Throw Benet Academy into the mix and, well, you get the idea …

"Our area has kind of been a (volleyball) hotbed," said Kull. "I think that's the focus of the complaints - the setup for sectionals - because this is one of the hotbeds right now. For them to move teams from other places in here - it's really frustrating."

Geneva first-year coach Annie Seitelman knows her team will be prepared for postseason play.

"That's the nice thing - within our division, we get to play the St. Charles schools and Batavia, too," said Seitelman. "The Tri-Cities schools are very competitive so it's a battle for the conference title as well. It attests to the level of volleyball that we have in this area."

How strong is the Bartlett sectional field?

The top four seeds - Benet, Glenbard West, St. Charles East and Geneva - carried a combined record of 94-17 into this week's action.

Waubonsie Valley, the 11th seed, knocked off 9th-seeded St. Charles North (20-8) a couple weeks ago. Eighth-seeded Neuqua Valley placed sixth in last weekend's Mizuno Cup, while DuPage Valley Conference leader Naperville North drew the sixth seed and fifth-seeded Glenbard South owns a 21-6 record.

"This is the toughest year yet," said Kull, whose Saints (22-6) begin regional action on Oct. 28 against either Wheaton Warrenville South or West Aurora at Glenbard South. "I used to think, 'oh, a regional,' but now I think if we can get a regional (title), 'we're pretty lucky.'

"You look at who we're playing and you're like, 'Holy Cow.' It is brutal."

There might be one positive to come out of the IHSA tournament pairings.

At least 2-time defending state champion Wheaton St. Francis is still in Class 3A.

You can reach Craig Brueske at csb4k@hotmail.com