Girls volleyball: Presenting the 2016 Fox Valley All-Area team

Kyla Augustine, St. Charles East

This 5-foot-10 senior outside hitter made the all-tournament teams at the Mizuno tournament and Autumnfest for St. Charles East, which finished second in the Upstate Eight River. Augustine finished with 125 kills, a .298 hitting percentage, scored a 2.0 passing, and had 28 blocks. Augustine will play college volleyball next year but is undecided where. "Kyla is a wonderful athlete," St. Charles East coach Jennie Kull said. "She has done an outstanding job this season. She does a great job taking care of the ball and terminating when needed. She will be playing next year."

Ally Barrett, Geneva

This University of Connecticut recruit is a four-year starter and two-time All-Area selection. Barrett blasted one big kill after another while Geneva went 33-1 through the regular season. The 6-foot-2 outside hitter was MVP of Geneva's Wheaton Classic championship. Through regional play, Barrett stood second on the Vikings with 296 kills, served a team-best 58 aces while also ranking among the best in digs and blocks. "The energy she has and her competitiveness on the court has greatly contributed to our team success," Geneva coach Annie Seitelman said.

Payton Bellano, Geneva

With all the attention on Geneva's powerful outside hitters, this junior libero made sure the Vikings stayed strong in the back as well. Bellano led the Upstate Eight Conference River champions with 261 digs (through regional play). Also served 38 aces and was second on the team with 50 assists. Received 351 serves while only making 29 errors. "She has anchored our serve-receive and defense all season," Geneva coach Annie Seitelman said. "She leads the team with her passing average, digs per set, and total digs. The energy she brings to the court is contagious and has done an outstanding job for us this season."

Ally Dion, Huntley

This Southeast Missouri recruit saved her best for last for the Fox Valley Conference and regional champion Red Raiders. Through regional play, Dion has 364 kills, 79 aces and 384 digs. Two-time All-Area selection. "She's voted by teammates as captain and I think that says a lot," Huntley coach Karen Naymola said. "We rely on her a lot not only offensively but defensively too. She covers a lot of court for us. Serve-receive we can always count on her to get us out of a tough serve. We set her in the back row. We do rely on her a lot and she's one that can handle that pressure."

Ayana Gard, Dundee-Crown

After primarily playing JV her freshman and sophomore years, Gard saw more varsity time at the end of her sophomore year. Her role grew as a junior, and this year in her final season with the Chargers she totaled 190 kills, 175 digs, 24 aces and 22 blocks. "She played much more relaxed this senior season and her confidence showed," Dundee-Crown coach Christine Hopkins-Muehl said. "She was definitely our go-to hitter. She has an aggressive and controlled serve and she stepped up her passing and defense this season."

Jenna Garrett, Batavia

Batavia put one of its most powerful offenses ever on the court this fall, and this junior setter directed the attack. She had 633 assists, with a setting percentage at 95.7 percent. Also finished with 213 digs, and served 140 points with 25 aces. "As a team we had 862 kills, which ranks fourth all-time in school history, and a big reason for that was how well Jenna betters the ball as a setter," Batavia coach Lori Trippi-Payne said. "We were not one of the tallest teams nor did we have a big terminator, but Jenna found the way to run an excellent, fast, deceptive offense and used all of her hitters with a great amount of success. Also, she was a very good offensive weapon herself, contributing 49 kills on 159 attempts."

Abby Graham, St. Charles North

This junior outside hitter helped provide the power for the 23-win North Stars while also making a name for herself in the back row. She finished with 232 kills and also served 29 aces and totaled 312 digs. "Abby is an amazing all-around player who helps our team just as much defensively as she does offensively," North Stars coach Lindsey Hawkins said. "Abby has been starting since she was a freshman, but people are just starting to see why. For the last couple years she has been studying the game ... now, she's getting her time to shine and people are noticing what an athlete she is. She stepped up big time this year. For a girl who was suddenly thrust into the spotlight and was forced to own the role of a star, she never let it shake her; instead, she put the team on her back."

Taylor Hankins South Elgin

In her first year playing outside and back row, Hankins led the Storm with 238 kills. She also had 163 digs and 27 aces. Made the Upstate Eight Valley all-conference team while impressing her coach as much with her leadership as her on-court skills. "She came into camp this summer and was ready to take on the role of a leader on and off the court," South Elgin coach Joni Plach said. "She is the first person putting up the net everyday. Taylor is a very determined volleyball player and looking forward to see where that takes her in college."

Meegan Hart, Rosary

Rosary's senior middle hitter is headed to Iowa State. Helped the Royals to a third straight regional championship and a 22-win regular season. Through regional play, Hart averaged 2.9 kills per set with a .517 hitting percentage and 196 kills. Also served 40 aces. "Meegan has been dominating the middle of the floor," Rosary coach Rachel Fox said. "(Setter) Julia (Gauthier) has been able to connect with her even on off passes. Meegan does a great job of adjusting to any set and fining a way to score."

Taylor Jakubowski, Huntley

A freshman, Jakubowski made an instant impact. She had 45 assists in the Red Raiders' thrilling three-set regional championship win over McHenry, giving her 771 on the season. She also has 336 digs. All-conference selection. "Taylor running our offense, those hitters wouldn't look as good as they do without her getting them the ball," Huntley coach Karen Naymola said. "She's smart. She sees the block. She's improved a lot on seeing the block and knowing where to go. She's an offensive threat. She likes to tip and dump a lot too."

Gillian Jones, West Aurora

Jones is a 2-year starter who had a 2.18 passing average this year along with 168 kills and 199 digs. She made the all-conference team and the all-tournament team at the Benet Invitational. "Gillian is a phenomenal asset to the team at outside hitter," West Aurora coach Kevin Mortlock said. "She stayed in all the way around, served, and her back row serve receive was some of the best on the team. Gillian is a very intelligent cerebral volleyball player who would earn kills even when nothing was open. She has been a figurehead in our program for many years. Every team Gillian has been a part of in the West Aurora volleyball program has been successful." Jones is undecided on where she will play college volleyball.

Maddy Katchen, Cary-Grove

The senior outside hitter delivered a powerful final season for the Trojans, finishing the regular season with 264 kills, 31 aces, 237 digs and 92 blocks. "Maddy is the heart of the team," Cary-Grove coach Patty Langanis said. "She drives the team on court with her play both in the back and the frontcourt. She carries a lot of the load for us and has done a fantastic job of dealing with that pressure. She has really developed into a fantastic team player, leader and an explosive outside attacker. I was really impressed with her ability to dominate in that position this year, as it was her first time in her career that she played outside or backcourt. It was a lot to put on her plate and she handled everything very well."

Natalie Kofie, Larkin

A third-year varsity captain, Kofie earned a unanimous all-Upstate Eight Conference River selection after totaling 119 kills while making only 12 hitting errors, set 495 assists, served 65 aces, had 264 digs and 22 blocks. An All-Area honorable mention choice last year, Kofie is committed to Judson University. "I'd be shocked if this isn't the highest kill total in the state for a setter who only sets," Larkin coach Henry Graack said. "With her assist totals, when our best hitter is actually a libero (April McGhee), it is going to hurt her assist totals because we do not have big Division I hitters to put the ball away like other area teams. It does not take away from her setting ability."

Martha Konovodoff, Rosary

A third year All-Area selection, this Marquette-bound libero plays defense like few others. Konovodoff took totals of 360 digs, 61 aces and 3.7 digs per set into sectional action. Her defense has been key to the Royals winning another Class 3A regional, their third straight. "Martha has been a contributing starter since her freshman year," Rosary coach Rachel Fox said. "She allows us to stay in rallies longer and makes it easier for our setters to put up a hitable ball. She always plays with 100 percent effort."

Morgan Kull, St. Charles East

A unanimous all-conference selection chosen captain the past two years by her Saints teammates, Kull served 96 percent with 20 aces, had 68 kills in 169 attempts, passed a 2.27, had 24 blocks and 108 digs while setting 356 assists. A 5-foot-8 senior setter made the Mizuno all-tournament team. Two-time All-Area selection. Also a standout soccer player, Kull is unsure if she will play volleyball or soccer in college. "Morgan has done an outstanding job helping to lead the team this season," St. Charles East coach Jennie Kull said. "She is a true competitor who loves to win. She's a finisher."

Grace Loberg, Geneva

A four-time All-Area selection, the 6-foot-2 Loberg entered Geneva and dominated as a freshman, and she is now leaving in just as impressive fashion. Headed to Wisconsin, Loberg led perhaps the best team in Geneva history with 330 kills (through regionals), and was second in digs (206) and third in blocks (33). Served 29 aces. "She has been a key player for us all season," Geneva coach Annie Seitelman said. "Her leadership and composure on the court have been instrumental in our success."

Hannah Nauert, Kaneland

With 565 assists, 40 aces and 173 digs during a regular season that saw Kaneland go 30-4, this heady senior setter elevated her game throughout her four years. Saved the best for last with 47 assists in Kaneland's regional championship win. "I've had Hannah since she was a freshman, and freshman year she sat the bench," Kaneland coach Cynthia Violett said. "That was her learning year. The goal was to get her to run a 5-1 by the time she's a senior. She's doing it. She's doing an awesome job. I told her I don't even need to be here, you can be the coach. We think alike. She knows what I want. She is a leader out there and that's huge."

Jordan Proszenyak, Crystal Lake South

Crystal Lake South coach Jorie Fontana had several new faces on the court this year, which made this senior outside a very important stabilizing factor. Proszenyak provided plenty of pop with 247 kills while also adding 86 blocks and 270 digs. "She plays a complete game for us," Proszenyak said. "As volleyball keeps progressing it's starting to be specialized and people dig, people hit, and she has always been that all-around player for us, contributing in all areas."

Mikayla Robinson, Harvest Christian

A three-year All-Area selection who will play college volleyball at South Carolina, Robinson put away 382 kills and had 87 blocks heading into sectional play. She did it while playing several 3A and 4A schools. "She's transitioned from the middle to the outside, which is a very tough transition," Harvest Christian coach Mike Bui said. "Also to do it in a few months, it's amazing to see how she can dominate a match. A lot of teams have a tough time stopping a 6-3 outside hitter that can touch 10-8." As talented as Robinson is, Bui has been more impressed with her character. "She's one of the best teammates out there," Bui said. "She's not about records or personal accolades at all, she's about her teammates. That is what truly sticks out the most about her. I personally think she's one of the best high school players I've coached."

Summer Smith, Burlington Central

A senior captain and outside hitter, Smith led the Rockets with 180 kills while also serving a team-best 41 aces. The two-year starter also totaled 207 digs. Repeat all-conference selection. Also made the all-tournament team at Lincoln-Way Central. "As one of our senior captains this year she helped tremendously in leading a young group throughout the season," Rockets coach Meghan Blahnik said. "She has the ability to light that fire when we needed her to and stay calm when things were tense. Her passion for the game is huge and I know that will continue into her college career."

Dominique Washington, St. Edward

Washington, a three-year standout and three-year All-Area choice, could put the ball down like few others. She set a school record with 447 kills which also gave her 996 in her career. Hit .367 while adding 278 digs and 33 aces. Undecided on her college choice, now with more options to choose from after a strong club and senior season. "She is one of the most powerful players around," St. Edward coach Jaime Dovichi said. "Anyone who has played us knows she is a great player and great kid. She's bigger and better this year. She's matured and gotten smarter and stronger."

Jessica Weber, Kaneland

Kaneland rolled to a 30-4 regular season and Northern Illinois Big XII East title. This senior outside did her part with her aggressive style, totaling 185 kills, 21 aces and 280 digs. Then in a regional championship win over Sycamore, Weber blasted 21 kills with 14 digs in a three-set win. "She hits hard, she plays smart," Kaneland coach Cynthia Violett said. "Jess has done well. She has a great idea of reading the ball and knowing where to place it. She's just going to go for everything."

Honorable mention

Aurora Central Catholic - Sydney Audiffred-Zauner, sr., OH

Aurora Christian - Cate Long, fr., OH; Kaitlyn Beebe, so., S

Bartlett - Megan Regan, sr., MB

Batavia - Sam Juarez, so., OH; Aasha Dave, sr., MB

Burlington Central - Lexi DeWaard, sr., S

Cary-Grove - Becca Elrod, sr., MB; Amber Olson, jr., S

Crystal Lake South - Madison Dahl, sr., DS

Dundee-Crown - Emma Brant, sr., MH

East Aurora - Yahaira Chavez, so., S

Elgin - Sofia Mari, sr., S

Geneva - Mikayla Lanasa, sr., S; Ally Mullen, sr., MB; Julia Brown, sr., MB

Hampshire - Olivia Manussen, sr., MB

Harvest Christian - Amanda Cassidy, jr., OH

Huntley - Caitlyn Thorlieus, sr., MH; Aleah Amelio, jr., RS; Sarah Zayas, so., L

Kaneland - Katie Jablonski, so., OH; Jessica Nguyen, sr., DS; Alex Anderson, sr., MH

​Rosary - Julia Gauthier, sr., S

Larkin - April McGhee, sr., OH

St. Charles E. - Emily Schildmeyer, sr., OH; Klaudia Sowizral, jr., RH

St. Charles North - Lauren Caprini, jr., L

Streamwood - Ashley Rothenberg, jr., MH

South Elgin - Libby Vedrine, jr., MB

West Aurora - Ali Greenwood, sr., L; Kayla Battle, sr., MB